WTAIjUSIHe 


BX  8949  .W93  C73  1870' 
Craft,  D. , 

Historical  discourse  of  thel 
Wyalusing  Presbyterian 


SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  WYALUSING. 

{From  Phot,  by  Sltirdevant.) 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE 


^<^«i  OF  mill 

OF    THE  (  ^  yif^v  r,^  ip^. 

'  Logical  stvv 


WYALUSING 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 


Delivered  September  5,  1869, 


BY  THE  PASTOR,  REV.  D.  CRAFT. 


Published  at  the  Request  of  the  Congregation. 


TO  WANDA,  PENN'A.: 

I'HINTEP    AT    THE    "  BRADFORD  REPORTER "    OFFICE, 
1870. 


Tr%  rr^T 


PREFATORY  NOTE. 


This  discourse  was  commenced  without  any  idea  of  its  publication.  It  was 
then  intended  to  commemorate,  as  a  member  of  a  neighboring  Presbytery,  who 
knew  something  of  its  history,  once  observed,  "  some  of  the  most  remarkable 
instances  of  divine  grace  ho  had  ever  known,''  and  added,  "  the  history  of  the 
Wyalusing  Church  ought  to  be  written  that  succeeding  generations  may  know 
what  QoD  hath  wrought."  I  am  sensible  that  this  sketch  has  but  very  imperfect- 
ly developed  that  idea,  in  fact  I  have  been  able  to  use  only  a  part  of  the  material 
I  had  gathered  up,  lest  I  should  exceed  the  bounds  I  had  prescribed  to  myself. 

Since  the  discourse  was  first  written,  some  foot  notes  have  been  added,  and  a 
brief  history  of  the  settlement  and  progress  of  the  place  appended.  The  account 
of  the  aboriginal  tribes  who  inhabited  the  valley,  and  of  the  troubles  between  the 
PeniMmUes  and  Yankee  settlers  is  easily  accessible  and  has  not  been  repeated.  I 
sought  accm'acy,  consulting  where  possible,  original  papers  for  names,  facts  and 
dates.  For  what  is  written  of  the  Moravian  Mission  I  am  mainly  indebted  to  Rev. 
E.  DE  ScHWEiNiTz  of  Bethlehem,  the  biographer  of  David  Zeisbebgeb  ;  for  other 
portions,  to  tlio  records  of  the  church,  the  histories  of  Wyoming,  Mr.  Justus 
Lewis  of  3Icrryall,  and  other  old  people  ;  and  to  old  papers  containing  obituary 
notices  of  the  persons  whose  names  have  been  mentioned. 

To  the  members  of  my  beloved  congregation,  who  have  encouraged  and  aid- 
ed me  in  its  pubUcation,  the  reader  is  indebted  for  whatever  of  interest  or  in- 
struction the  discourse  may  afford.  D.  C. 

Wyalutuig,  Pa.,  Jaimanj  1,  1870. 


DISCOURSE. 


Hebrews  XT.  2. — Far  hi/  it  {  t'oit'n)  IIk-   o^lf,-^  iHoinpd   n  (/ooti 
ii^pnrl. 

The  record  of  christian  faith  and  labor  found  in  the  history 
of  the  church  is  both  profitable  and  interesting.  To  preserve 
that  history  is  a  duty  we  owe  to  ourselves,  to  past  generations 
:ind  to  posterity.  The  Holy  Spirit  has  taught  us  this  duty, 
from  the  fact  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  made  up  largely  of 
narrative  and  biography.  We  assent  to  the  duty  in  general, 
by  gathering  up  with  vast  labor,  the  outlines  of  church  history, 
but  in  the  minor  details  of  individual  character  and  special 
fact  we  sadly  neglect  it.  In  gathering  up  the  items  of  his- 
tory of  which  this  discourse  is  composed,  my  motive  has  been 
to  recount  the  dealings  of  the  Great  FTead  of  the  church,  who 
has  promised  to  be  with  her  until  the  end  of  time,  both  to  at- 
test the  fulfillment  of  that  promise  and  to  encourage  our  faith 
in  it,  rather  than  glorify  men.  Every  name  here  mentioned, 
with  one  voice  would  have  declared  •'  by  the  grace  of  God  I 
am  what  I  am,"  and  it  becomes  us  to  magnify  that  grace, 
which  so  wrought  in  them,  as  to  make  them  conspicuous  ex- 
amples of  the  faith  and  patience  of  the  gospel.  My  only  re- 
f^rct  is  that  the  limits  which  I  have  prescribed  for  myself  in 
this  discourse  will  prevent  nie  from  using  all  of  the  material 
which  I  have  collected. 

Wyalu8ing  is  eminently  historic  ground.      For  more  than  a 
century  this  place  has  been  favored  with  the  preaching  of 


«j  •  HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE. 

Christ's  glorious  gospel,  and  the  fruits  of  that  preaching  are 
now  being  enjojed  by  the  fourth  generation  of  those,  who 
through  much  sacrifice,  established  here  the  sanctuary  of  the 
Most  High. 

Near  this  place,  and  Avithin  the  bounds  of  this  congregation 
there  was  established  a  christian  mission  among  the  Indians 
early  in  the  latter  half  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The 
founding  of  this  mission  is  due  to  the  labor  and  faith  of  the 
Moravians  or  United  Brethren. 

The  Moravians  are  a  people  who  never  submitted  to  the  au- 
thority of  the  Pope  of  Rome.  Their  home  was  among  the 
Moravian  hills  on  the  south  of  Bohemia,  from  which  they 
were  expelled  on  account  of  their  religion,  in  1547.  In  the 
year  1627,  at  the  council  of  Ostrorog,  the  Bohemian  and 
Swiss  churches  were  consolidated  and  took  the  name  of  the 
"church  of  the  United  Brethren.'"  They  are  Episcopal  in 
government,  Calvinistic  in  doctrine,  and  hold,  in  a  modified 
form,  to  a  community  of  goods.  They  have  been  noted  for 
their  missionary  zeal  in  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  heathen. 
Early  in  the  settlement  of  the  country,  (1742)  they  establish- 
edthemselves  at  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  from  whence  they  sent  out 
their  missionaries  to  all  the  adjacent  country,  whose  labors 
were  signally  blest  among  the  Indians. 

A  remarkable  desire  for  the  gospel  awoke  among  the  In- 
diane,  a  clan  of  the  Delawares,  under  the  rule  of  the  Six 
Nations  at  Wyalusing,  or  as  it  was  called  by  the  natives, 
Machiwihilusing,  (meaning  beautiful  hunting  ground,)  in 
the  year  1762,  where  Papunhank,  a  false  prophet,  who 
had  obtained  some  knowledge  of  Christianity  from  the  Del- 
aware tribes,  preached  to  them  a  sort  of  heathen  morality. 
The  Indians  losing  faith  in  PiPUNHANK,  desired  some  better 
religious  teachers.     David  Zeisrtjrgkr,  known  as  the  great 


UibTOmCAL    DISCOURSK.  7 

Moravian  Apostle  to  the  Indians,  and  a  Delaware  convert, 
named  Anthony,  responded  to  the  call.  They  arrived  at 
the  Indian  settlement  on  the  23d  of  May,  and  remained  until 
the  26th,  1762,  preaching  Christ.  Returning  to  Bethlehem, 
Zeisberger  brought  such  a  favorable  report,  as  to  induce  the 
Brethren  to  appoint  him  resident  missionary?  In  June,  he 
came  back  to  Machiwihilusing,  and  his  labors  were  unusually 
blest  of  God.  On  the  26th  he  baptized  Papunhank,  and 
there  were  good  hopes  of  converting  the  whole  clan ;  but  Pox- 
TiAc's  war  broke  out,  and  on  the  5th  of  July  Zeisberger  was 
obliged  to  leave.  Nothing  further  could  be  done  at  the  mis- 
sion for  the  next  three  years. 

After  the  conclusion  of  peace,  Zeisberger  led  the  remnant 
of  Christian  Indians,  who  had  been  sheltered  in  government 
barracks  at  Philadelphia,  during  the  war,  back  to  the  Susque- 
hanna, assisted  by  John  Jacob  Schmick.  They  arrived  at 
Machiwihilusing  May  9,  1765,  and  began  to  found  a  christian 
town  near  the  site  of  the  heathen  village.  In  October  of  the 
same  year,  the  first  baptism  took  place  and  a  remarkable  re- 
vival followed — Indians  streaming  together  from  every  part 
and  listening  to  the  gospel.  "It  often  happens,"  writes  Zeis- 
berger, "  while  I  preach,  that  the  power  of  the  gospel  takes 
such  hold  of  the  savages,  tiiat  they  tremble  with  emotion  and 
shake  with  fear,  until  consciousness  is  nearly  gone  and  they 
seem  to  be  on  the  point  of  fainting." 

The  settlement,  which  received  the  name  of  Friedenshueiten, 
or  tents  of  peace,  from  the  synod  of  the  church  assembled  at 
Bethlehem,  May,  1766,  was  situated  on  that  part  of  the  farm 
of  the  Hon.  L.  P.  Stalpord  lying  between  the  canal  and  the 
river,  the  main  street  of  which  was  eighty  feet  wide  running 
nearly  east  and  west,  about  twenty-five  to  thirty  rods  south  of 
the  canal.     The  settlement  numbered  twenty- nine  log  houses^ 


8  UISTORICAL    DI8C0URSE. 

nith  windows  and  chimneys,  thirteen  huts,  a  cliurch  thirty- 
two  feet  long  by  twenty-four  feet  Avide,  roofed  with  shingles, 
a  school  house  and  a  mission  house.  Nearly  every  dwelling 
had  a  garden  attached,  and  every  household  had  a  canoe  on 
the  river.  The  church  stood  in  the  center  of  the  street  near 
the  east  end  of  the  town,  about  six  rods  east  of  Stalford's 
line,  south  of  the  churcii  was  the  mission  house,  and  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street  was  the  school  house.  Each  lot 
had  a  front  of  thirty-two  feet  on  the  main  street,  and  between 
every  two  lots  was  an  alley  ten  feet  broad.  The  whole  area 
was  surrounded  by  a  post  and  rail  fence,  and  every  Saturday 
during  the  summer,  was  swept  by  the  women  with  wooden 
brooms,  and  all  of  the  rubbish  removed,  so  that  the  town  pre- 
sented a  neat  and  clean  appearance.  Between  the  town  and 
the  river  were  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  plantations  and 
meadows,  on  the  west  an  orchard,  and  on  the  east  a  burying 
ground  ;  and  on  their  grounds  were  two  miles  of  fences.  The 
population  numbered  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls. 

In  September,  1766,  Zeisberger  left  Friedenshuetten  to  la- 
bor elsewhere,  and  was  succeeded  by  John  Jacob  Schmick. 
En  1767  a  larger  churcli  was  built  which  was  dedicated  Feb. 
18,  1768.  This  church  had  a  bell,  the  first  ever  heard  in  this 
valley. 

February  4,  1769,  a  second  station  was  begun  at  Schech- 
>jhiqanunk,  (sometimes  spelled  Tschechshe(j[uanink)  opposite 
the  present  Shesheciuin  under  JouN  IloTiiK,  (Rhodes). 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1771,  Zeisberger  came  from 
the  Ohio,  and  brought  the  converts  an  invitation  from  the 
Delaware  chiefs  of  that  country  to  settle  there,  which  was  ac- 
cepted at  a  council  held  on  that  day.* 


"The  reasons  whidi  induecil  the  IiuliajiH  to  Icavu  Friedeusliuctteu  were,  Flret,  The  Iro- 
()  uoig,  by  tbo  treaty  at  Vort  Stuiiwix  in  lliii.  Bold  ti)  tho  l»roprialories  of  PennBjlvaiU»,  tliv 
t»nA  which  thfiy  bad  (Vvimprly  a(<Hlcned  to  th»  (Tlinsiian  Indian*.    Soi-ond.  R«tt1»i»  f^<mi 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  9 

On  the  11th  of  June,  1772,  the  christian  Indians  emigrated 
from  the  Susquehanna  to  the  Ohio — one  hundred  and  fifty-one 
from  Friedenshuetten  and  fifty-three  from  Schechschiquanunk 
— two  hundred  and  four  in  all.f  During  the  seven  years 
which  the  mission  existed,  there  were  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
six  natives  added  to  the  church. 

It  is  said  that  the  Indians  were  very  strongly  attached  to 
their  beautiful  home  and  left  it  with  much  sorrow.  On  the 
6th  of  June  they  partook  of  the  Holy  communion  for  the  last 
time  at  Friedenshuetten  and  with  tears  and  prayers  went  forth 
to  bid  adieu  forever  to  this  pleasant  valley  and  the  graves  of 
their  fathers.  Some  of  the  company  went  by  land  to  the 
West  Branch,  the  others  constructed  rafts  of  the  timbers  of 
some  of  their  houses  and  floated  down  the  river  to  Northum- 
berland, thence  up  the  West  Branch  to  the^Big  Island  where 
they  joined  their  companions.  They  then  took  their  journey 
across  the  mountains,  and  after  incredible  hardships  and  suf- 
ferings reached  the  Alleghany  river,  down  which|[they  floated 
to  the  place  of  their  destination. 

The  tract  upon  which  the  mission  was  situated  was  included 
in  a  subsequent  grant  made  by  the  Propriataries  of  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Job  Chillaway,  the  chief  of  the  clan.  This  grant 
included  the  best  part  of  the  "plains  of  Wyalusing,"  begin- 
ning at  the  Wyalusing  creek,  was  nearly  two  miles  long,  and 
was  considerably  more  than  half  a  mile  wide,  and  contained 


Connecticut,  claimiug  the  laud  under  a  former  Indiau  grant,  were  making  preparations  to 
seize  their  landfl.  Third,  Traders  and  bad  men  would  occasionally  furnish  the  Indians 
with  spirituous  liquors  which  tended  to  their  demoralization.  Fourth,  In  the  difficulties 
which  were  then  pending  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  and  which  throat- 
ed to  bring  on  a  general  Indian  war,  the  Christian  Indians  wished  to  remain  neutral,  they 
were  therefore  suspected  and  endangered  by  both  parties.  For  these  reasons  they  felt 
compelled  to  remove  further  from  the  scenes  of  strife  and  from  the  bad  influenceof  the 
whites. 

tTho  whole  company  consisted  of  241  persons. 


10  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

nearly  seven  hundred  acres.  The  warrant  was  issued  to  Chil- 
LAWAY  March  12,  1774,  and  was  by  him  conveyed  to  Henry 
Pawling  May  4,  1775,  for  $2720.  In  1795  Pawling  con- 
veyed it,  by  will,  to  his  daughter  Catherine,  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Stalmford  (Stalford).  Subsequently  the  com- 
missioners appointed  to  settle  the  land  titles  in  Springfield 
township,  assigned  the  upper  half  to  Connecticut  claimants, 
leaving  to  the  Stalfords  only  the  part  actually  occupied  by 
the  Indians. 

After  the  abandonment  of  the  Indian  mission  of  Friedens- 
heutten,  the  first  public  christian  worship  held  In  this  valley, 
was  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Lucretia  Miner  Yo'R]*^  under  the 
direction  of  an  old  man  whose  name  was  Baldwin,  living  near 
Browntown,  in  the  latter  part  of  year  1785.  This  old  man 
and  his  wife,  with  Mrs.  York,  were  the  only  religious  persons 
at  that  time  in  this  neighborhood.  These  two  families  agreed 
to  meet  every  Sabbath  for  religious  worship,  and  invited  their 
neighbors  to  join  them.  The  old  man  read  a  psalm  and  offer- 
ed prayer,  and  Mrs.  York's  son,  Mannassah  Miner,  read  a 
selected  sermon.  The  good  effects  of  this  service  were  soon 
apparent.  Attendance  upon  the  meetings  became  quite  gener- 
al. Sabbath  profanation  in  a  great  measure  ceased,  and  the 
good  order  and  morals  of  the  community  greatly  improved. 
Thus  commenced  in  the  wilderness,  the  public  worship  of  Je- 
hovah which  has  ever  since  been  maintained  in  this  valley,  and 
though  not  ably,  yet  we  trust,  was  acceptably  conducted. 

Of  Mrs.  York,  who  was  the  nursing  mother  to  this  church, 
and  whose  descendents  have  ever  since  formed  a  large  portion 
of  its  membership,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  say  a  few  words. 
Lucretia,  daughter  of  Manassah  Miner,  was  born  in  Ston- 
ington,  Ct.,  Feb.,  1730.  The  family  is  said  to  have  belonged 
to  the  Royal  house  of  Prussia,  were  strict  Protestants,  and  pos- 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE.  11 

sessed  of  considerablo  wealth.  In  her  eighteenth  year  she 
was  married  to  Amos  York.  Mr.  Mixer,  having  given  his 
daugter  a  considerable  tract  of  land  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Wyalusing  creek,  in  1773  Mr.  York  moved  his  family  to  Wy- 
oming, and  the  following  spring  moved  up  the  river  and  settled 
upon  his  lands.  The  difficulties  which  culminated  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  soon  commenced,  and  Mr.  York  was  known 
to  be  an  ardent  Whig. 

On  the  12th  and  13th  days  of  February,  1777,  snow  fell  to 
an  unusual  depth.  On  the  next  morning,  the  14th,  Mr.  York, 
while  at  a  neighboring  settlement,  was  captured  by  a  band  of 
Indians,  hurried  from  his  family,  and  marched  to  Canada. 
The  journey  was  one  of  incredible  hardship  and  suffering. 
Mr.  York  was  subsequently  exchanged,  and  arrived  at  his  na- 
tive place,  in  Connecticut,  where  he  died  nine  days  before  his 
family  reached  there. 

The  helpless  family — a  mother  and  eight  children,  her  son 
seven  years  of  age  and  her  youngest  child  only  three  weeks 
old,  were  thus  left  in  the  depth  of  winter,  without  protection, 
with  but  little  clothing,  bedding  or  provisions,  the  Indians  hav^^t* 
plundered  them  of  most  of  their  substance,  in  a  land  of  stran 
gers,  and  surrounded  by  enemies.  They  soon  removed  to  the 
old  Indian  village,  where  several  white  families  were  then  liv 
ing,  and  the  next  spring  went  down  the  river  to  Wyoming. 
She  was  present  at  the  terrible  battle  which  was  fought  there, 
in  which  her  son-in-law,  Capt.  Aholiab  Buck,  was  killed, 
leaving  her  widowed  daughter  with  an  infant  four  months  old. 
As  soon  as  it  was  safe  to  do  so,  she  set  out  with  her  son,  eight 
daughters  and  her  orpkan  grandchild,  for  her  home  in  Connect- 
icut. In  the  year  1785  she  returned  to  Wyalusing,  where  she 
resided  until  her  death,  October  30,  1818,  in  the  88th  year  of 
her  age,  respected  and  beloved  by  a  large  circle  of  relative^ 


12  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

and  acquaintances.  She  was  a  woman  of  remarkable  energy, 
deep  piety,  and  ardently  attached  to  the  doctrines  of  the 
church,  and  ever  manifested,  even  to  her  dying  day,  the  warm- 
est interest  in  its  welfare. 

In  the  years  from  1786  to  1793  several  pious  families  sot- 
tied  in  the  neighborhood.  Tlie  Rev.  Ira  Condit  visited  them 
occasionally  as  a  missionary,  and  on  the  30th  day  of  June, 
1793,  organized  the  first  Presbyterian  church,  in  the  whole 
valley  drained  by  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna.* 
The  meeting  was  held  in  a  log  school  house  which  stood  very 
near  the  place  where  this  church  now  stands.  The  organiza- 
tion consisted  of  thirteen  members,  whose  names  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Uriah  Terry,  Lucretia  York,  Justus  Gaylord,  Jr.,  and 
Lucretia  his  wife,  Zachariah  Price,  and  Ruth  his  wife,  Mary 
Lewis,  Abigail  Wells,  Sarah  Rockwell,  Anna  Camp,  James 
Lake,  Thomas  Oviatt,  and  Hannah  Beckwith.  Uriah  Terry 
was  at  the  same  time  ordained  and  installed  Ruling  Elder. 

Of  those  ever  to  be  remembered  thirteen,  who  that  day  en- 
tered into  covenant  with  each  other,  to  walk  together  as  chris- 
tians, it  will  be  proper  to  say  a  few  words.  Of  Lucretia 
York  I  have  already  spoken.  Uriah  Terry  was  born  on 
Long  Island,  nearly  opposite  New  London,  Connecticut,  Oct., 
1728.  His  first  wife  was  Abigail  Case.  Their  oldest  daugh- 
ter, Abigail,  married  JonathaNj  son  of  Parshall  Terry, 
and  were  the  first  permanent  white  settlers  in  Terrytown. 
Uraih  Terry  was  at  Forty  Fort  at  the  time  of  the  battle, 
after  which  he  went  to  Orange  county,  N.Y.  He  returned  to 
the  Wyoming  valley  after  the  war  and  came  to  Wyalusing  in 
1790.  Soon  after,  he  moved  to  Terrytown,  where  he  died, 
June  29,  1804.     He  was  a  man  of  good  education  for  those 


*ThiB  was  the  first  organization  of  any  kind  in  the  County,  of  wMcb  there  is  any  record, 
80  far  as  I  knoTr. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  13 

times,  and  of  superior  talents.  IIo  wrote  several  pieces  of 
poetry  of  decided  merit,  one  of  which,  the  Battle  of  Wyom- 
ing, has  a  place  in  Miner's  History,  and  a  dialogue  on  Elect- 
ion in  which  there  is  a  clear  statement  of  the  doctrine,  and 
ingenious  replies  to  the  ordinary  objections  to  it.  He  was,  so 
far  as  I  can  learn,  the  first  school  teacher  in  Wyalusing.  The 
school  was  commenced  in  the  house  of  Major  Gaylord,  and 
was  removed  to  the  school  house  in  which  the  church  was  or- 
ganized, when  it  was  completed.  He  was  a  man  of  mark  and 
influence  in  the  little  community  gathered  here,  and  left  a 
name  which  is  dearly  cherished  by  his  descendents  He  was 
a  man  of  faith  and  prayer,  and  though  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  was  clouded  by  domestic  troubles,  he  maintained  a  good 
christian  character,  steadfast  unto  the  end. 

The  name  of  Justus  Gaylord,  Jr.,  or  as  be  was  commonly 
called  Major  Gaylord,  stands  next  on  the  roll  of  the  members 
of  this  church.  The  father  of  Justus  Gaylord,  Samuel 
GiYLORD,  was  one  of  three  brothers  who  came  from  England 
at  an  early  day,  and  settled  in  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut. 
The  family  is  of  French  origin,  but  the  period  of  their  emi- 
gration to  England,  or  the  causes  which  led  to  it,  I  have  been 
unable  to  learn.  Justus  was  born  Mar.  12, 1732.  The  brothers 
engaged  in  the  iron  business.  Justus  was  the  blacksmith, 
and  is  said  to  have  forged  from  a  piece  of  steel,  the  first  saw 
made  in  the  country.  Failing  in  the  business  of  iron  working, 
he  purchased  a  farm  and  engaged  in  agriculture.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  he  with  four  of  his 
sons  entered  the  continental  army  and  remained  in  it  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  served  without  pay  and  lived  without 
pension.  About  the  year  1793,  he  came  to  Black  Walnut, 
Wyoming  county,  and  lived  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Sterling  place.     The  next  year,  (1794)  ho  and  his  wife  united 


1-4  .  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSI;;. 

with  this  church,  and  in  the  same  year  he  was  elected  elder, 
Avhich  ofl&ce  he  held  until  his  removal  from  the  country.  In 
1814,  hie  wife  having  died,  and  his  son  Elihu,  with  whom  he 
had  been  living,  having  gone  further  west,  he  came  to  TVyalu- 
sing,  and  remained  here  about  two  years,  when  he  went  to 
Delaware  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1720,  at  nearly  eigh- 
ty-eight years  of  age.  His  son  Justus,  was  born  in  Connec- 
ticut in  the  year  1757.  He  married  a  Miss  Garner,  who  died 
before  he  left  the  State.  He  enlisted  in  the  company  of 
Capt.  Ransom,  and  served  during  the  war.  He  formed  one 
of  the  company  sent  for  the  relief  of  Forty  Fort,  and  arrived 
there  a  few  days  after  the  terrible  battle.  He  was  afterwards 
a  scout  in  Sullivan's  army  which  was  sent  to  drive  the  In- 
dians out  of  the  valley.  While  on  that  expedition,  he  saw  for 
the  first  time  the  beautiful  lands  of  the  VVyalusing,  and  after 
the  close  of  the  war,  came  up  and  purchased  the  lands  on  the 
north  side  of  the  creek,  now  occupied  by  some  of  his  descen- 
dents. 

He  married  ^jUCREtia,  widow  of  Capt.  Aholiab  Buck,  and 
oldest  daughter  of  Lcuretia  York.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  this  church,  and  all  through  life  was  regarded  as 
one  of  its  strongest  supporters.  He  was  chosen  one  of  its 
deacons  in  1795.  He  was  a  man  of  high  christian  principles, 
ardently  attached  to  the  church,  and  bore  a  name  and  char- 
acter above  reproach.  He  died  in  Wyalusing,  May  23,  1830, 
at  the  age  of  73  years. 

His  wife  survived  him  nearly  sixteen  years.  She  died  Jan- 
uary 15,  1846,  aged  eighty-seven  years,  nine  months,  and  fif- 
teen days.  She  was  a  superior  woman,  of  great  energy  and 
industry,  and  of  decided  firmness  of  character. 

The  house  of  Major  Gaylord  was  for  years  the  central 
point  of  religious  interest  at  Wyalusing.      The  school  was 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE  If) 

taught  there,  there  was  the  place  of  religious  meetingfl,  and 
the  home  of  the  minister.  Mr.  Miner,  in  his  personal  reme- 
niscences  appended  to  the  history  of  Wyoming,  says :  "  The 
author  waited  upon  Mrs, 3s  June  25, 1845,  and  found  the  good  old 
lady  in  fine  health  and  spirits.  The  profusion  of  lace  upon 
her  cap  speaking  of  habitual  fondness  for  dress,  her  round  full 
face  and  cheerful  smile  indicating,  in  early  life,  remarkable 
personal  beauty.  She  had  walked  up  a  mile  to  visit  Mrs. 
Taylor,  wife  of  Major  John  Taylor,  her  daughter  who  was 
on  her  nursing  bosom  in  July,  1778."'  This  was  in  June  pro- 
ceeding her  death. 

Mary  (Turril)  Lewis,  was  born  in  Litchfield  county,  Con- 
necticut, March  1,  1748.  She  was  married  to  Thomas  Lewis 
May  20,  1768.  Mr.  Lewis  came  to  Wyalusing  in  1786,  and 
having  made  some  arrangements  for  the  comfort  of  his  family 
brought  them  here  the  next  year.  They  lived  for  a  time  in  a 
log  house  a  few  rods  south  of  this  place,  and  between  the  pre- 
sent road  and  the  river.  Here  their  son  Justus  was  born 
August  24,  1787,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  many  of  the  in- 
cidents mentioned  in  this  discourse.  Mrs.  Lewis  is  spoken  of 
as  a  very  superior  woman.  She  encountered  the  trials,  priva- 
tion and  dangers  of  pioneer  life  without  a  murmur  or  com- 
plaint. She  impressed  her  character  upon  her  household,  and 
faithfully  trained  her  children  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Script- 
ures. Such  was  her  influence  in  her  family,  that  her  husband, 
though  never  a  member  of  the  church,  regularly  maintained 
family  worship  morning  and  evening.  She  loved  the  church 
of  God.  When  she  became  helpless  through  infirmity,  her 
sons  lovingly  bore  her  to  the  place  of  worship,  where  she  de- 
lighted to  go.  On  the  23d  of  January,  1813,  she  was  num- 
bered with  the  sainted  dead,  leaving  a  name  perfumed  with 
many  a  christian  grace,  to  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance 
by  her  posterity  and  the  church  of  God. 


10  ^   IIISTOKICAL    DISCOIKSK. 

Anna,  daughter  of  Samuel  Oviatt,  was  born  in  Litchfield 
county,  Connecticut,  January  27,  1749,  and  vras  married  to 
Job  Camp,  February  22,  177-3.  He  came  to  Wyalusing  in 
1792,  and  planted  a  piece  of  corn,  and  returned  to  Connecti- 
cut after  he  had  harvested  it.  The  following  spring  he  moved 
his  family  here  and  settled  five  miles  up  the  Wyalusing  creek 
in  the  present  village  of  Camptown,  when  the  country  was  an 
unbroken  wilderness,  and  there  he  lived  until  his  death,  Janu- 
ary 17,  1822.  His  wife  was  a  faithful,  earnest,  christian  wo- 
man, who  trained  her  large  family  in  the  nurture  and  admoni- 
tion of  the  gospel.     She  fell  on  sleep,  November  19,  1825. 

Abigail  Wells,  the  sister  of  Mrs.  Lev;is  and  wife  of  dea- 
con Reubin  Wells,  came  with  her  family  into  the  place  at 
an  early  day.  They  were  among  the  pioneers  in  the  settle- 
ment up  the  Wyalusing.  She  was  a  devoted  woman,  and  had 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  her  husband  profess  the  religion  she 
loved,  and  become  an  honored  oflScer  in  the  infant  church, 
which  position  he  adorned  by  a  consistant  christian  walk  and 
conversation,  commanding  his  household  after  him. 

The  other  founders  of  this  church  either  soon  removed,  or 
lived  at  such  a  distance  from  this  place,  that  I  have  been  un- 
able to  learn  that  their  influence  was  markedly  felt  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  religious  interest  which  centered  here.  So 
fai  as  I  can  learn,  all  of  them  exemplified  the  doctrine  of  God 
their  Savior,  by  blameless  lives  and  a  godly  conversation.  In 
the  midst  of  many  trials,  through  many  difliculties,  and  at 
much  self-sacrifice,  they  joined  their  brethren  in  their  sabbath 
\yorship,  and  with  them  toiled  and  prayed  for  the  prosperity 
of  the  Zion  they  loved. 

In  the  next  year  1794,  the  church  was  visited  by  the  Rev. 
N.  JuDD,  who  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  of  commanding  per- 
son, engaging  manners,  and  a  pleasing  speaker.     On  the  17th 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  17 

of  August  in  this  year,  ten  persons  were  added  to  the  church, 
namely  :  Justus  Gaylord  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  John  Taylor 
and  his  wife  Deborah,  Daniel  Turril  and  Temperance  his 
wife,  M.  Miner  York,  Berintha  Buck,  Parshall  Terry,  and 
Reubin  Wells. 

Of  Justus  Gaylord  I  have  already  spoken. 

John  Taylor,  or  as  he  was  frequently  called,  Major 
Taylor,  was  born  in  Pov\  ell's  Valley,  Dauphin  county,  Pa., 
January  7,  1770.  lie  was  of  Irish  descent,  his  grandfather 
having  left  Ireland  to  escape  the  persecutions  to  which  the 
Presbyterians  were  exposed.  He  came  to  Wyalusing  in  1793. 
On  the  IGth  of  May,  1794,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Deborah 
Buck,  daughter  of  Captain  Aholiab  Buck,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Mrs.  LucRETiA  York.  The  next  year  after  his 
union  with  the  church,  he  was  chosen  deacon,  and  in  1831 
elected  Ruling  Elder,  which  office  he  held  until  his  death. 
He  was  also  the  church  clerk  for  more  than  forty  years.  He 
was  a  model  of  energy,  punctuality,  uprightness,  fortitude 
and  christian  integrity,  and  in  connection  with  Justus  Gay- 
lord, Jr.,  was  mainly  instrumental  in  maintaining  here  the 
ordinances  of  religion.  In  his  daily  deportment  he  exemplified 
the  doctrine  of  Christ,  whom  he  loved,  for  whom  he  labored, 
and  in  an  unshaken  faith  in  whom,  he  died  October  17,  1855, 
at  the  age  of  85  vears. 

His  wife,  Deborah,  was  born  at  Forty  Fort,  (Wyoming,) 
Luzerne  county.  Pa.,  March  25,  1778 ;  a  little  more  than 
three  months  before  that  far-famed  battle,  in  which  her  father 
was  slain.  Her  widowed  mother  fled  with  her  over  the  moun- 
tains after  the  battle  to  Connecticut.  She  returned  with  the 
family  in  1785.  Born  amidst  the  tumult  of  war,  subject  to 
the  exposures  and  hardships  which  attended  the  fugitives  from 
the  Valley,  trained  subsequently  in  the  severe  school  of  pioneer 


18  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

life,  and  by  the  spirit  of  Divine  Grace,  she  endured  hardness 
as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ  and  ever  exhibited  an  earn- 
est zeal  for  her  Master.  For  more  than  sixty  years  she  was 
the  partner  of  her  husband's  toils  and  united  with  him  in 
dispensing  a  generous  hospitality  to  all  who  loved  the  name  of 
Christ.  She  died  in  the  78th  year  of  her  age,  September  26, 
1855,  leaving  a  numerous  posterity  to  rise  up  and  call  her 
name  and  memory  blessed. 

Parshall  Terry,  a  cousin  of  Uriah  Terry,  was  born  near 
New  London,  Connecticut,  August  8,  1734.  He  and  his 
brother  Nathaniel  were  among  the  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen Connecticut  settlers  who  came  to  Wyoming  in  1763. 
Wyoming  suffered  from  the  Indian  troubles  which  then  existed, 
known  as  Pontiac's  War,  and  his  brother  Nathaniel  was 
shot*  by  an  Indian,  October  15,  1763,  when  Parshall  soon 
after  made  his  way  back  to  Connecticut,  which  journey  he 
made  no  less  than  twenty  times.  Parshall  was  also  in 
Wyoming  in  1773,  and  was  made  one  of  the  dii'ectors  for  the 
town  of  Kingston,  under  the  plan  of  government  adopted  by 
the  Susquehanna  Company.  He  participated  in  that  fatal 
engagement  in  the  afternoon  of  the  2nd  of  July,  1778,y  and 


'"  As  ilhisti'ating  the  perils  to  which  the  early  settlers  were  exposed,  and  their  niauy 
hair-breadth  escapes,  the  incident  may  bo  narrated,  as  I  have  it  from  the  most  reliable 
authority.  As  JJ.mh.\niel  and  PAK.'fHALL  were  .going  to  their  cabin  for  dinner,  Nathaniel 
seeing  the  Indian  just  ready  to  shoot  his  brother,  called  out,  "Parshall!  tholndiane!" 
The  savaKo  immediately  fired  at  Mathaxiil  uud  killed  him  :  but  Parshall,  who  was 
unarmed,  dropped  down  in  the  grass.  The  Indian  searched  for  him  a  long  time,  frequenily 
coming  within  a  few  feet  of  him,  but  did  not  find  him.  Pabsh-^u.  subsequently  saw  thii 
same  Indian  and  heard  him  relate  the  incident,  in  which  he  said,  "That  he  didn't  know  what 
became  of  that  other  Yankee,  but  he  must  have  jumped  in  the  river  and  drowned  himself, 
or  else  the  Devil  took  him,  for  ho  was  sure  that  If  he  had  been  anywhere  about  where  he 
saw  him,  he  would  hav(!  found  him." 

t  One  writer  has  alleged  that  Pahsh.vll  Terry,  .Jr.,  who  was  a  royalist,  kiUed  his  fatbor 
and  all  his  family  after  the  battle.  This  of  course  is  a  mistake.  In  justice  to  the  man  it 
ought  to  be  said  that  between  liiiu  and  the  rest  of  the  family  there  were  only  political 
dlffi'rencf's.    Aftrr  the  capitnliition  he  came  into  the  fort  and  embraced  his  parents. 


IIISXORIOAL   DISCO  UKSE.  lU 

afterward,  with  other  fugitives,  made  his  way  over  the  moun- 
tain and  through  the  "shades  of  Death,"  to  the  Delaware 
river.  Leaving  his  family  at  Stroudsburg,  he  went  east  to 
obtain  assistance  to  remove  them  to  a  place  of  safety.  Here 
his  wife  died  and  was  buried.  On  his  return  he  took  his  chil- 
dren, one  an  infant,  to  Sugar  Loaf,  near  Newbuvg,  N.  Y., 
where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war ;  when  he  returned 
to  his  farm  in  Wyoming,  which  he  afterward  sold  to  Oliver 
Pettibone.  He  came  up  the  river  to  Wyalusing  about  1790, 
and  soon  after  went  over  to  Terrytown.  While  he  lived  there, 
religious  meetings  on  that  side  of  the  river  were  usually  held 
at  hjs  house.  In  1808  he  went  to  Palmyra,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
died.  May  15,  1811,  aged  76  years,  9  months  and  7  days.  In 
1795  he  was  elected  an  elder  in  the  church,  which  office  he 
held  until  his  removal  to  New  York.  lie  was  an  active  man, 
of  good  judgment,  grave  deportment,  and  genial  temper.  As 
an  office-bearer  he  was  faithful  and  efficient,  and  as  a  christian 
humble  and  devout.  Nearly  all  of  his  family  left  this  region, 
except  Deborah,  of  whom  mention  will  be  made  further  on. 

Manassah  Miner  York,  the  only  son  of  Amos  and  Lucre- 
TIA  York,  who  survived  infancy,  was  born  at  Stonington,  Ct,, 
October,  1767.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  when  the  son 
was  but  11  years  old,  he  was  compelled  to  endure  many  hard- 
ships and  privations.  In  early  life  he  showed  a  great  fond- 
ness for  reading  and  from  1785  to  1793  was  mainly  depended 
upon  to  read  the  sermon  at  religious  worship  when  no  minister 
was  present.  In  the  fall  of  1792  he  married  Miss  Betsy 
Arnold.  In  1808  he  commenced  his  studies  for  the  christian 
ministry  under   Rev.  Ard  Hoyt,  and  completed  them  under 


brothers  and  sisters,  with  the  warmest  affection,  protected  them  to  the  extent  of  his 
ability,  and  parted  with  them  with  deep  emotion,  sorrow  on  their  part  being  heightened 
by  his  misgoidcd  z'esl. 


20  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

Rev.  Joel  T.  Benedict,  of  Catskill,  and  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  sjospel  in  1809.  On  the  23d  of  September  of  that  year, 
he  commenced  his  labors  at  Wyalusing  and  vras  ordained  in 
the  October  following  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Hoyt  and  Benedict. 
Mr.  York  continued  to  preach  at  Wyalusing  until  1818. 
From  here  he  went  to  Trumansburg  and  returned  in  1825. 
He  died  in  Wysox,  Jan.  2,  1830,  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his 
age.  Mr.  York  was  abundant  in  labors.  He  wrought  with 
his  hands,  taught  school,  preached  through  all  this  section  of 
country  not  only  on  the  Sabbath,  but  through  the  week,  gath- 
ered the  children  for  catechetical  instruction,  and  older  per- 
sons for  bible  study,  and  as  the  fruit  of  his  toil  many  were 
added  to  the  church. 

At  this  time  he  occupied  an  extensive  field,  preaching  regu 
larly  at  Towanda,  Wysox,  "Wyalusing  and  Black  Walnut,  and 
occasionally  at  out  stations.  "What  he  endured  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  his  work,  we  at  this  day  can  hardly  imagine,  and 
what  are  the  fruits  of  these  labors  eternity  alone  can  reveal. 
His  name  is  still  spoken  with  respect  and  veneration  and  his 
memory  is  blessed. 

In  1795  the  Rev.  Daniel  Thatcher  visited  the  church,  and 
the  record  shows  that  they  contributed  for  him  $4.06,  an 
amount- though  small  in  itself,  was  large  when  wc  take  into 
the  account  the  means  of  its  members  and  the  small  amount  of 
money  in  circulation  among  them.  Isolated  by  many  miles  of 
dense  forests  from  older  settlements,  with  but  few  implements 
of  agriculture,  living  in  log  houses  in  an  uncleared  county, 
none  being  able  to  cultivate  but  a  few  acres  of  land,  and  hav- 
ing but  just  enough  provisions  to  subsist  on,  the  only  won- 
der is  how  they  could  have  given  so  much.  At  this  time  the 
meetings  were  held  in  the  old  school  house  where  the  church 
was  organized,  and  though  several  of  the  members  lived  some 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  21 

miles  distant,  with  only  foot-paths  through  the  woods  to  their 
dwellings,  none  having  wagons  and  but  few  having  horses,  yet 
it  was  seldom  that  one  was  absent  from  the  appointed  place  of 
worship.  I  have  sometimes  thought,  when  hearing  the  frivol- 
ous excuses  which  now-a-days  are  frequently  made  for  ab- 
sence from  the  sanctuary,  what  stinging  rebukes  the  examples 
of  these  self-sacrificing  followers  of  Christ  administer  to  their 
degenerate  offspring. 

Among  the  additions  to  the  church  at  this  time  were  De- 
borah HoRTON,  Urania  Stalford  and  Zeruau  Lacey.  Of 
these  three  godly  women,  each  is  worthy  of  more  than  a  pass- 
ing notice.  Deborah  Horton,  daughter  of  Parshall  Ter- 
ry, was  born  in  Little  Britain,  Orange  county,  New  York,  in 
1767.  In  her  early  childhood  she  lived  for  several  years  with 
the  family  of  her  father  in  Wyoming  Valley,  and  was  one  of 
the  inmates  of  the  famed  Forty  Fort  during  the  afternoon  and 
evening  of  the  terrible  battle  and  massacre,  and  though  at  the 
time  but  eleven  years  of  age,  yet  to  the  day  of  her  death  these 
awful  scenes  were  vividly  impressed  upon  her  memory,  and 
she  could  never  speak  of  them  without  tears.  Early  the  next 
morning  she,  with  the  rest  of  the  family,  started  on  their  way 
to  Orange  county.  New  York.  Here  she  was  married  to  John 
Horton,  in  1783.  She  followed  her  father  to  the  Wyoming 
Valley  in  1784,  and  in  1792  came  to  TerrytoAvn.  Here  she 
spent  the  remainder  of  her  life,  which  closed  on  the  25th  of 
May,  1844,  at  the  age  of  77  years.  She  was  an  energetic, 
spirited  woman,  and  her  industry  and  perseverance  knew  no 
bounds.  She  was  emphatically  the  guide  of  her  house  and 
deeply  impressed  her  character  upon  her  household*.  She  was 
eminently  devout,  often  rising  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning  for 
the  purpose  of  reading  her  bible,  and  other  devotional  works, 
or  in  pious  meditation  and  prayer,  before  beginning  the  duties 
of  the  day.     In  her  neighborhood  and  among  her  children  her 


22  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

name  and  example  are  mentioned  with  the  loving  respect 
which  only  a  truly  christian  character  can  inspire.  Though 
called  to  pass  through  many  afflictions,  she  endured  them  with 
christian  fortitude  and  resignation,  and  wken  her  life's  duties 
and  suflferings  were  over,  peacefully  committed  herself  to  her 
covenant-keeping  Saviour,  who  was  able  to  keep  that  which 
she  had  committed  to  Him  against  the  day  of  his  final 
appearing. 

Urania  (Turril)  Stalford  was  born  in  Kent  county,  Ct., 
in  1786.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  in  1805,  she  came  into  Sus- 
quehanna county  and  taught  school.  The  next  year  she  was 
married  to  Mr.  Cyril  Peck,  who  died  a  little  more  than  two 
years  after.  In  1810  she  was  married  to  Benjamin  Stalford 
and  became  a  permanent  resident  within  the  bounds  of  this 
congregation,  and  where  she  died  the  14th  of  June,  18G8. 
She  was  eminently  a  godly  woman.  She  survived  both  hus- 
bands, and  three  sons  grown  to  manhood.  Her  afflictions 
seemed  sanctified  to  her  spiritual  good  and  she  was  able  to 
bear  them  in  patience,  with  resignation  and  assurance  that  the 
Master  knew  best  what  was  for  her  good.  Her  piety  was  of 
that  quiet  and  unobtrusive  type  which  did  not  so  immediately 
strike  the  stranger  as  it  impressed  itself  upon  all  who  were  as- 
sociated with  her,  and  especially  those  of  her  own  family.  No 
one  could  long  be  a  member  of  her  household  without  feeling 
its  hallowed  influence.  Her  christian  walk  and  deportment 
were  known  to  all.  She  was  a  woman  of  great  industry  and 
prudence  and  she  manifested  these  qualities  in  all  of  her 
christian  life.  She  was  ever  ready  to  speak  a  loving  word  for 
her  Saviour,  or  do  an  act  which  would  lead  others  to  think  of 
him.  Her  death  was  quiet,  peaceful,  triumphant ;  without 
ecstacy  and  without  fear.  A  few  days  before  her  departure 
she  called  her  pastor  to  her  bedside  and  named  the  text  which 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  23 

had  been  the  key-note  to  her  life,  as  the  one  from  Yrhich  she 
wished  her  funeral  sermon  to  be  preached :  "  Come  unto  nie 
all  ye  ^rho  are  weary  and  heavy  laden  and  I  will  give  you 
rest." 

The  last  in  this  trio  of  noble  women  was  Zeruaii  Lacey, 
wife  of  Ebenezer  Lacey,  and  a  daughter  of  Amos  Northup. 
She  was  born  in  Connecticut,  Feb.  1,  1789.  For  a  time  she 
lived  near  Rush,  Susquehanna  county.  In  1807  she  came  to 
Laceyville,  where  she  married  Ebenezer  Lacey,  June  5, 
1809.  She,  too,  was  a  very  devoted,  pious  woman  and  warm- 
ly attached  to  the  church  of  which  she  was  a  member.  Al- 
though her  lot  was  cast  in  a  community  where  there  were  but 
few  Presbyterians,  she  was  unshaken  in  her  faith.  No  one 
ever  doubted  the  sincerity  of  her  profession,  or  knowing  her, 
could  fail  to  observe  her  christian  walk.  She  was  of  a  cheer- 
ful disposition  and  her  piety  was  of  the  same  delightful  char- 
acter. Living  as  she  did,  far  from  the  church  of  which  she 
was  a  member,  she  was  unable,  especially  in  the  latter  years 
of  life,  to  be  present  at  its  meetings  as  often  as  she  wished, 
but  she  always  rejoiced  to  learn  of  its  prosperity.  She  aboun- 
dedin  hospitality  and  her  house  was  always  open  to  the  minis- 
ter of  Christ's  gospel.  She  died  March  1, 1869,  at  the  age  of 
four  score  years.  As  she  lived  unto  the  Lord,  so  she  died  un- 
to the  Lord  and  rested  in  his  embrace  Of  all  these  it  may 
be  said  : 

Sweet  is  the  savor  of  their  names, 

And  blest  their  dying  broatli.  > 

In  1806  Rev.  Daniel  Buck  commenced  preaching  for  the 
church  one- fourth  of  the  time.  About  this  time  the  families  of 
Nathan  and  Aden  Stevens  came  into  the  country  and  set- 
tled several  miles  up  the  Wyalusing  creek  and  the  meetings 
were  held  alternately  at  Merryall  and  Wyalusing.  During 
the  three  years  which  Mr.  Buck  remained  with  the  church  it 


24  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

enjoyed  great  prosperity,  Laving  received  into  its  membership 
nearly  forty  persons,  the  most  of  whom  were  by  profession  of 
their  faitli. 

In  1809  Mr.  York,  having  been  licensed  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel, and  being  an  ardent  admirer  of  Congregationalism,  the 
church  Avas  induced  to  assume  that  form  of  church  govern- 
ment This  change  was  made  the  more  easily  from  the  fact 
that  most  of  the  settlers  here  were  from  Connecticut,  holding 
their  land  under  Connecticut  titles,  were  in  frequent  corre- 
spondence with  their  friends  at  home,  and  were  by  education 
familiar  with  Congregational  usage.  Then  there  were  no 
Presbyterian  churches  near  with  which  this  could  affiliate ; 
also  the  Congregational  churches  of  that  day  usually  adhered 
strictly  to  the  Westminster  standards.  In  fact,  this  church 
always  maintained  its  adherence  to  those  standards  firm  unto 
the  end. 

Accordingly,  on  the  23d  of  September,  1809,  the  church 
assumed  tho  Congregational  form  of  government.  At  this 
meeting  Mr.  York  was  called  to  be  pastor  of  the  church  and 
was  ordained  and  settled  the  27th  of  October  following,  and 
in  1811,  the  church  having  adopted  the  constitution  of  the 
Luzerne  Association,  became  a  part  of  that  body.  During 
the  nine  years  which  Mr.  York  remained  with  the  church  it 
continued  to  enjoy  a  large  measure  of  prosperity,  and  every 
year  witnessed  additions  to  its  membership.  After  Mr.  York 
left,  there  was  no  stated  preaching  for  several  years.  Rev. 
Salmon  Kixo  and  Ebenezer  Kingsbury  were  occasionally 
present  and  administered  the  sacrament.  In  182C  the  church 
was  visited  by  a  committee  of  Presbytery  and  initiatory  steps 
were  taken  which  ultimately  resulted  in  the  church  becoming 
Presbyterian  again.  As  the  Valley  of  the  Wyalusing  had  be- 
come more  thickly  settled  tlie  meetings  were  most  frequently 


IIISTOHK'AI.    DI^;COl'HS^:.  2C> 

held  in  the  school  house  at  Merryall.  As  this  became  too 
strait  for  the  increasing  congregations  which  assembled  there 
(for  in  those  days  they  came  from  Stevensville,  Wyalusing 
and  Terrytown),  the  question  of  having  a  more  suitable  house 
of  worship  had  been  frequently  discussed,  and  after  a  great 
deal  of  exertion  a  subscription  sufficient  to  warrant  the  under- 
taking was  raised,  and  Mr,  Justus  Lewis  agreed  to  build  the 
house,  which  was  commenced  in  1828  and  dedicated  nearly 
three  years  afterward.  As  showing  something  of  the  difficulty 
with  which  such  an  undertaking  was  carried  on  in  those  days, 
Mr.  Lewis  says  that  on  that  subscription  he  did  not  receive 
one  dollar  in  money,  but  took  grain,  produce,  lumber,  or  what- 
ever the  people  could  spare,  to  the  amount  which  had  been 
subscribed.  In  1830  Rev.  Simeon  K.  Jones  commenced 
preaching  for  the  church  and  continued  for  nearly  two  years. 
He  is  said  to  have  been  a  very  kind-hearted  man  and  a  fluent 
preacher. 

In  1831  (March  81),  the  church  having  had  under  con- 
sideration for  some  time  the  subject  of  changing  its  ecclesias- 
tical connexion,  unanimously  passed  the  following  resolution : 

^'Resolved,  That  we  unitedly  agree  to  become  a  Presby- 
terian church." 

•  This  resolution  was  signed  by  twenty-six  persons— just 
double  the  original  number  Avith  which  the  church  was  first 
organized.  Although  nearly  one  hundred  had  been  added  to 
the  church  on  profession  and  several  by  letter.  Of  these  some 
had  died,  two  or  three  had  been  excommunicated,  some  had 
moved  out  of  the  county,  and  others  had  been  dismissed  to 
form  adjacent  churches.  On  the  7th  April  the  church  called 
Mr.  George  Printz  to  the  pastorate,  and  on  the  28th  of  June 
following  the  Presbytery  of  Susquehanna  met  with  the  church. 
This  is  the  first  meeting  of  Presbytery  at  Wyalusing  of  which 


26  HrSTORICAL   DISCOURSE.        '^ 

there  is  any  record.  At  this  meeting  Aden  Stevens,  John 
Taylor,  William  Bradshaw,  Hiram  Stevens  and  Chester  Wells 
were  ordained  Ruling  Elders.  Mr.  Printz  was  ordained  and 
installed  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Wyalusing  and  Braintrim, 
serving  the  latter  church  one-fourth  of  the  time,  and  the  re- 
cently completed  church  edifice  atMerryall  "was  dedicated  to 
the  worship  of  Almighty  God."  Thus  Presbyterianism  was 
again  established  in  this  valley,  and  the  church,  entering  its 
new  house,  under  the  stated  services  of  its  pastor  enjoyed  sev- 
eral years  of  uninterrupted  prosperity  and  increased  in  num- 
bers and  influence.  The  session  of  the  church  at  once  com- 
menced making  regular  contributions  to  the  benevolent  opera- 
tions of  the  church,  which  have  been  continued  to  the  present. 
1834  was  a  year  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  The  whole  church  was  rent  with  fierce  discussion  of 
those  questions  which  finally  led  to  the  disruption,  which  efforts 
have  been  made  to  heal,  and  the  union  of  the  two  bodies  has 
been  just  consummated.  This  church,  true  to  her  sincere  at- 
tachment to  her  time-honored  standards  of  christian  doctrine, 
unanimously  adopted  the  "act  and  testimony"  and  ranged 
herself  with  the  Old  School  party.  It  may  be  well  for  us  at 
this  day  to  be  reminded  of  the  testimony  which  the  fiithers 
])ore  on  this  subject.     They  say : 

•'  Whereas,  we  believe  that  truth  is  in  order  to  godliness, 
and  the  Scriptures  say  '  first  pure  and  then  peaceable,'  and  we 
believe  that  the  effort  which  is  made  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  to  cry  peace  when  there  is  none,  only  tends  to  increase 
dissention  and  error,  which  facts  have  already  proved  ;  and 
we  are  moreover  satisfied  on  sufficient  grounds  that  our  late 
General  Assembly  acted  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  constitu- 
tion of  our  church,  and  by  their  acts  have  oncouraged  the 
spread  of  various  errors  already  taught  under  her  name ; 
therefore,  resolved,"  &c. 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  '2i 

Here  follow  tho  resolutions  adopting  the  "Act  and  Testi- 
mony," condemning  the  formation  of  Synods  and  Presbyteries 
on  the  plan  of  elective  affinity,  and  the  dividing  of  Presby- 
teries on  the  same  plan,  contraiy  to  the  wish  of  the  Synods 
within  whose  bounds  they  are  found.  All  honor  to  these 
fathers  in  the  church,  who  thus  fearlessly  bore  their  testimony 
against  prevailing  errors,  who,  when  the  enemy  came  in  like  a 
flood,  could  lift  up  the  standard  of  a  pure  gospel  against  him. 
Instead  of,  as  some  are  anxious  to  do,  blotting  out  this  record 
of  their  faithfulness  to  truth,  I  would  write  it  in  letters  of  gold 
on  the  doors  of  every  Old  School  church  in  the  land,  that  it 
might  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance  by  all  who  come 
after  them. 

On  the  second  Sabbath  in  December,  1839,  the  church  ob- 
served with  deep  interest  the  semi-centenary  anniversary  of 
the  formation  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States.  At  this  jubilee  meeting  ^30 
were  raised  for  the  Boards  of  the  Church. 

In  1836  the  anti-slavery  discussion  commenced  in  this  com- 
munity. The  question  assumed  more  of  a  religious  than  poli- 
tical character.  The  inherent  sin  of  slavery,  the  duty  of  the 
church  in  regard  to  it,  were  topics  of  debate  in  school  houses 
and  neighborhoods,  through  all  this  part  of  the  country.  In 
this  conflict  Georoe  and  William  Gamble,  Dr.  Horton, 
and  some  other  members  of  the  church,  were  earnest  and  ac- 
tive. Mr.  Printz,  while  deprecating  slavery,  was  in  favor  of 
colonization  and  opposed  to  the  discussion  at  first,  but  finally 
allowed  himself  to  be  drawn  into  it.  The  church  was  thus 
rent  into  opposing  factions  and  the  whole  community  thrown 
into  a  fever  of  excitement.  While  this  excitement  was  at  its 
hight,  Mr.  Printz  attempted,  as  a  last  resort,  to  discipline 
William  Gamble,  for  using  harsh  words  towards  his  pastor. 


28  HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE. 

After  several  meetings  of  the  session,  the  parties  being  unable 
to  settle  their  difficulties,  Mr.  Gamble  denied  the  authority  of 
the  church  to  try  him,  left  the  meeting,  and  his  name,  without 
further  process,  was  stricken  from  the  roll.  Shortly  after  this 
(Oct.  1,  1842),  a  portion  of  the  anti-slavery  party  requested 
letters  of  dismission  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  new  Presby- 
terian church,  which  they  contemplated  placing  under  the  con- 
trol of  another  Presbytery.  Owing  to  some  misunderstanding 
between  them  and  the  pastor,  the  church  was  formed  before 
the  letters  had  been  granted,  and  thus,  without  any  intention 
on  their  part,  their  action  seemed  somewhat  irregular.  This 
church  maintained,  an  existence  for  several  years,  but  at 
length  the  most  of  its  members  who  remained  in  the  vicinity 
became  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Herrick,  or 
that  of  Terrytown.  In  regard  to  this  rupture  in  the  church, 
blame  attaches  to  both  parties.  They  imagined  their  differ- 
ences to  be  greater  than  they  really  were.  Some  of  the  anti- 
slavery  party  were  too  denunciatory  in  their  language,  un- 
charitable and  schismatic  in  their  conduct.  On  the  other 
hand,  Mr.  Printz  was  of  strong  prejudices,  and  was  unwise  in 
entering  into  a  public  debate  with  his  own  church  members 
when  the  differences  with  some  of  them  had  already  become 
personal  and  the  subject  enlisted  so  much  feeling,  and  then 
for  proceeding  to  discipline  his  leading  opponent  when  the 
church  was  stirred  with  such  a  turmoil  of  excitement.  On  ac- 
count of  these  differences  Mr.  Printz'  usefulness  as  the  pas- 
tor of  the  church  was  largely  diminished,  and  the  next  year 
he  resigned  the  charge  and  left  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery. 
With  whatever  faults  he  may  have  had,  he  was  an  able  minis- 
ter, a  good  pastor,  an  exemplary  christian,  and  endured  hard- 
ness, both  in  labors  and  privations,  for  Christ's  sake  and  the 
gospel's.  Notwithstanding  the  troublesome  times  in  which  he 
ministered,  the  church  increased  under  his  ministrations,  both 
in  numbers  and  influence. 


UlcJTORlCAL   DISCOURSE.  2\* 

On  tho  8tli  of  December,  1843,  the  congregation  invited  the 
Rev.  S.  F.  Colt  to  become  their  pastor,  which  invitation  he 
accepted  and  commenced  his  labors  "with  the  church  the  begin- 
ning of  the  next  year.  In  the  early  part  of  Mr.  Colt's  pas- 
torate, considerable  religious  interest  was  manifested  in  the 
congregation,  and  at  the  communion,  April  7,  1844,  eighteen 
persons  were  added  to  the  church.  During  this  year,  the 
Parsonage  for  the  church  was  commenced  at  Merryall,  and  af- 
ter much  exertion,  was  completed  at  an  expense  of  $850.  Mr. 
Colt  served  the  church  acceptably  for  about  ten  years,  when, 
at  the  request  of  Presbytery,  he  resigned  the  pastorate  to  take 
charge  of  the  Susquehanna  Collegiate  Institute,  an  institution 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  and  which  was  erected  main- 
ly through  Mr.  Colt's  efforts.  At  this  time  the  members  of 
the  church  were  scattered  over  a  large  extent  of  territory,  and 
it  was  Mr.  Colt's  policy  to  gather  them  together  in  their  sev- 
eral neighborhoods  for  religious  worship,  preparatory  for  sep- 
erate  church  organizations.  In  this  way  were  laid  tho  founda- 
tions of  the  churches  of  Herrick,  Stevensville,  Meshoppeu, 
Rush  and  Wyalusing  2nd,  which  were  organized  about  the 
time  or  soon  after  Mr.  Colt  left  Wyalusing. 

On  the  12th  of  January,  1854,  a  committee  of  Presbytery 
raised  in  answer  to  a  petition  of  several  members  of  the  old 
church  and  some  others,  met  in  the  school  house  near  by  this 
spot  and  organized  the  2nd  Presbyterian  church  of  Wyalusing. 
Thus  within  tho  reach  of  the  sound  of  our  worship  in  this 
sanctuary,  is  the  birth-place  of  two  Presbyterian  churches, 
which  have  exercised  a  marked  influence  on  tho  religious  in- 
terests of  the  people  of  this  valley,  and  which  wc  trust  are  to 
do  good  work  for  tho  cause  of  the  Master.  The  2nd  church 
was  constituted  with  the  following  named  persons  :  John  R. 
Welles,  Mary  A.  Welles,  Ellen  J.  Welles,  William  H.  Welles, 


^0  HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE. 

Deborah  A.  Stalford,  A.  F.  Eastman,  H.  S.  Clark,  Henry 
Gaylord,  Martha  Gaylord,  Lorinda  H.  Gaylord,  Gustavus  A. 
Gaylord,  Urania  Stalford,  Joel  Stalford,  Nathan  Stalford, 
Lydia  Stalford,  Mary  E.  Ingham,  Deborah  E.  Ingham,  Moses 
Eilenberger  and  Elizabeth  his  -wife,  James  Gamble  and  his 
wife  Isabel,  William  Gamble  and  his  wife  Irene,  and  Elizabeth 
Gamble,  N.  N.  Gamble,  Abigail  T.  Gamble,  and  Deborah  H. 
Gamble,  in  all  twenty-seven  persons.  Of  these,  the  greater 
part  remain  until  this  present,  but  some  are  fallen  asleep. 
John  R.  Welles,  Henry  Gaylord  and  William  Gamble  were 
ordained  elders,  and  Rev.  John  White  was  the  stated  supply 
of  the  church  un1;il  the  spring  of  1857.  During  Mr.  White's 
stay  here  nine  persons  were  added  to  the  church,  most  of  them 
by  letter  from  churches.  The  erection  of  this  building  was 
commenced  before  the  church  was  organized,  and  was  dedica- 
ted to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  the  next  year. 

In  the  winter  of  1857,  the  congregation  called  Rev.  Thom- 
as S.  Dewing  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  church.  He  ac- 
cepted the  call  and  commenced  his  labors  here  in  the  month 
of  January  following,  when  he  was  installed  pastor  by  a  com- 
mittee of  Presbytery.  Mr.  Dewing  remained  pastor  until  Aug. 
31,  1861.  During  his  pastorate  six  were  received  by  letter 
and  one  by  profession,  six  were  dismissed  and  one  died,  leav- 
ing a  total  membership  of  thirty-five  persons. 

On  the  first  Sabbath  in  September  of  the  same  year,  the 
present  pastor  began  preaching  in  the  church  on  Sabbath 
morning,  and  at  Fairbanks,  Terrytown  and  Sugar  Run  on  al- 
ternate Sabbath  afternoons.  On  the  11th  of  April,  1863, 
Jesse  T.  Stalford  was  elected  elder  in  the  church  and  on  the 
19th  of  May  following  J.  W.  Hollenback  and  wife  were  dis- 
missed to  the  church  of  Wilkes-Barre.  On  the  11th  of  Oct. 
the  members  residing  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  eleven  in 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE.  Bl 

number,  were  dismissed  to  form  the  church  of  Terrytown 
which  was  organized  by  a  committee  of  Presbytery,  on  the  15th 
of  the  same  month.  On  the  16th  of  January,  1866,  the  con- 
gregation, in  connection  with  the  church  of  Terrytown,  called 
their  stated  'supply  to  become  their  pastor,  and  he  was  instal- 
led by  a  committee  of  Presbytery,  over  this  church,  the  28th 
of  February  following,  and  the  next  evening  installed  pastor 
of  the  Terrytown  church.  The  Terrytown  church  requiring 
his  services  every  Sabbath  afternoon  compelled  the  abandon- 
ment of  the  station  at  Fairbanks.  The  winter  of  1860  will 
long  be  remembered  by  the  churches  in  this  Presbytery,  as  a 
season  of  the  gracious  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The 
revival  visited  both  Wyalusing  and  Terrytown.  At  the  latter 
place  it  was  the  most  extensive  and  pow  erful  religious  awaken- 
ing ever  known  there.  As  the  fruits  of  that  revival  in  April 
there  were  added  to  this  church  sixteen  persons,  and  to  the 
church  of  Terrytown  eight.  This  community  was  also  visited 
last  winter  with  a  season  of  deep  religious  interest,  and  last 
April  ( 1869 ),  eleven  were  added  to  the  church.  The 
whole  number  added  by  profession  since  September,  1861,  until 
the  present  kas  been  thirty-one,  by  letter  five,  making  a  total 
of  thirty-six,  one  more  than  the  whole  number  of  members 
when  I  commenced  preaching  here.  During  the  same  time, 
there  have  been  dismissed  to  join  other  churches,  sixteen,  and 
there  have  died  five,  making  a  loss  of  twenty-one,  leaving  a 
net  gain  in  membership  of  fifteen.  If  in  this  we  include  the 
church  of  Terrytown,  which  formed  a  part  of  this  church 
when  I  was  settled  here,  the  net  gain  is  forty-three.  To-day, 
therefore,  we  can  record  our  vows  of  hearty  thanksgiving  to 
the  Lord  for  his  great  goodness,  and  say  surely  the  Lord  hath 
been  mindful  of  his  people,  and  hath  not  forsaken  the  heritage 
which  he  hath  chosen. 

During  the  eight  year.s  which  I  have  been  with  you,  I  have 


;J2  IlISTORKA]-  insrorRSK. 

souglit  as  Avell  as  I  have  been  able,  to  do  with  diligence  the 
work  of  my  Master.  In  that  time  I  have  preached  to  the  dif- 
ferent stations  1104  sermons,  married  39  couple,  and  preached 
01  funerals,  besides  attending  numerous  calls  outside  the 
bounds  of  my  field,  Avhich  have  not  been  included  in  this  enu- 
meration, and  the  field  of  labor  has  greatly  increased  in  extent 
and  instead  of  four  places  for  preaciiing  there  are  now  ten, 
some  of  which  are  supplied  by  week  night  appointments. 

As  a  fit  conclusion  to  this  discourse,  I  shall  give  some  brief 
sketches  of  those  who  were  members  of  this  church,  but  have 
been  called  to  their  rest.  First  in  this  list  may  be  mentioned 
the  name  of  Daniel  Brown.  He  was  born  in  Quaker  Hill, 
Connecticut,  September  7,  1771.  At  an  early  day  the  family 
came  to  Wyoming,  and  several  of  them  were  participators  in 
that  memorable  battle  in  1787.  The  family  came  up  the  val- 
ley .soon  after  Sullivan's  campaign,  and  in  1778  moved  over 
into  Browntown.  In  1795  Daniel  was  married  to  Mary  Wig- 
don,  grand-daughter  of  Justus  Gaylord.  In  1824  he  united 
Avith  the  church  at  Merryall,  and  August  4,  18o8,  was  receiv- 
ed by  letter  into  this  church  He  died  March  3,  1859,  in  the 
88th  year  of  his  age,  leaving  a  numerous  family  to  cherish  his 
memory.  He  was  a  supporter  of  the  gospel,  and  the  fast 
friend  of  religion,  quiet,  patient  and  unobtrusive  in  his  con- 
duct, 

Gi'BTAViJS  A.,  oldest  son  of  Henry  and  Patty  Gaylord,  was 
born  in  Wyalusing,  January  20,  1829.  He  made  a  profession 
of  religion  March  30,  1843,  and  formed  one  of  the  original 
members  of  this  church  at  its  organization.  Going  west  he 
died  of  cholera  at  New  Boston,  Iowa,  May  4,  1855.  He  was 
a  young  man  of  good  talents,  of  great  energy,  and  unblemish- 
ed character,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  felt  as  well  by  the  church 
as  by  his  own   family  to  whom  he  wns  endeared  by  many  a 


HISTORICAL   DISCOURSE.  33 

christian  and  social  virtue.  His  sister  Juliette  was  born  at 
Wyalusing,  May  10,  1835,  and  became  a  member  of  this 
church  July  12,  185G.  In  January  29,  1857,  she  was  mar- 
ried to  Truman  I.  Lacey,  and  died  November  11,  1858. 

Thus  early  in  its  history  was  this  little  band  thinned  by 
death,  and  its  membership  transferred  to  the  great  company 
of  the  faithful  in  heaven,  for  Trhich  the  church  on  earth  was 
designed  to  prepare  us. 

Joel,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Urania  Stalford,  was  born  Dec. 
2,  1816.  Made  a  profession  of  religion  June  15,  1843,  mar- 
ried Minerva  Pickett,  September,  1858,  and  suddenly  died  on 
the  morning  of  the  2nd  of  April,  1866.  He  was  a  very  quiet 
diffident  man,  of  good  reputation  and  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  christian  duties. 

His  brother  Nathan  was  born  January  10,  1816,  and  unit- 
ed with  the  church  at  the  same  time  with  Joel.  After  a  long 
and  peculiarly  painful  illness,  (a  scrofulousy^ruption,)  he  en- 
tered into  rest  November  16,  1866.  As  a  member  of  the 
church  ho  was  faithful  in  his  duties ;  no  storm  was  so  severe 
that  it  kept  him  from  the  accustomed  place  of  meeting.  He 
loved  the  church  with  a  peculiar  aifection,  and  rested  in  the 
promises  of  his  Redeemer  with  a  confiding  reliance,  which 
nothing  was  able  to  shake.  The  anchor  of  his  hope  was  cast 
in  no  uncertain  ocean.  Many  of  us  are  the  witnesses  of  that 
patient,  I  had  almost  said  heroic,  resignation  with  which  he 
endured  the  pain  and  suffering  of  those  long  months  of  bitter 
agony,  a  resignation  which  nothing  but  an  unshaken  faith  in 
the  Savior  could  sustain. 

Deborah  A.,  daughter  of  John  P.  and  Lydia  Stalford,  was 
born  in  Wyalusing,  October  15, 1828.  June  15, 1843,  she  made 
a  profession  o'fi  faith  and  united  with  the  church,  and  subse- 
quently was  one  of  the  members  of  this  church  at  its  organi- 


84  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

zation.  May  10,  1861,  she  was  married  to  John  Hollenback. 
August  20,  1861,  she  was  dismissed  to  unite  with  the  church 
at  Newark,  Ohio,  whither  she  had  removed  immediately  after 
her  marriage,  and  where  she  died  June  15,  1863.  She  fulfill- 
ed the  duties  of  a  professed  christian,  a  daughter,  wife  and 
mother,  with  a  loving  fidelity,  and  having  served  in  her  allot- 
ed  place  with  diligence  entered  into  rest. 

William,  son  of  Charles  F.  and  Ellen  J.  Welles,  was  born 
at  Wyalusing,  May  8,  1829.  On  the  7th  of  July,  1844,  he 
united  with  the  old  church,  and  afterward  connected  himself 
with  this.  In  1857  he  was  married  to  Miss  Frances,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Smith,  of  South  Creek,  Pa.  Having  re- 
moved to  Columbia  X  Roads,  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Troy 
church  in  1859.  He  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  April  14,  1860. 
His  life  was  a  beautiful  exemplification  of  christian  virtue  and 
faithfulness.  Benevolent,  genial,  earnest,  and  strong  in  his 
attachment  to  Christ,  he  commanded  the  respect  of  and  en- 
deared himself  to  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  "  The 
savor  of  his  name"  is  still  fragrant  throughout  this  whole 
community. 

Anna  E.,  daughter  of  Eli  Beard  and  wife  of  John  Welles 
Hollenback,  was  born  in  Towanda,  Bradford  county,  July 
13,  1835,  and  was  received  by  letter  from  the  church  of  Wil- 
liamsburg, July  12,  1856,  and  with  her  husband  was  dismissed 
to  the  church  at  Wilkes-Barrn,  May  19,  1863,  where  she  died 
September  11,  1864.  The  natural  grace  of  her  mind  was  re- 
fined and  beautified  by  the  holier  graces  of  the  spirit,  which 
combined  to  form  a  character  of  rare  lovliness  and  beauty. 
Her  family  and  friends,  the  church  of  Christ,  the  poor  and 
the  sick  all  had  a  place  in  her  heart.  Those  who  have  read 
''Little  Walter  of  Wyalusing,"  a  sketch -^hcr  oldest  son, 
will  understand  something  of  the  rare  excellence  of  the  moth- 


UISTORICAL    DISCOURSE.  35 

er,  to  ^vhom  much  of  his  training  was  necessarily  committed. 
An  ancient  proverb  says,  "they  who  are  born  fairest  die  soon- 
est," so  she  early  in  life  faded  away, 

As  from  the  sky,  scrcno  and  far, 
A  voice  fell,  like  a  falling  star, 

Excelsior,  with  Jesus. 

Jane  M.,  only  sister  of  William  Welles  was  born  December 
8,  1820.  Early  in  life  she  professed  faith  in  Christ.  She 
was  received  into  this  church  by  letter  from  Rochester,  Nov. 
29,  1858.  In  1852  she  was  married  to  G.  M.  Bixby.  The 
inherent  energy  and  spirit  of  her  character  manifested  itself 
in  her  christian  life,  while  her  fine  accomplishmewts  enlivened 
the  circles  where  she  moved.  She  entered  into  rest  May  4, 
18G9. 

Benjamin  Stetler  was  born  in  Middle  Smithfield,  Monroe 
county,  Pa.,  May  9,  1815,  was  married  to  Pew&elia  Gaylord, 
March  31,  184G,  He  died  in  Albany  township,  January  12, 
18G9.  His  residence  for  the  latter  years  of  his  life  was  so 
far  from  Wyalusing  that  it  was  seldom  he  could  attend  wor- 
ship here.  He  is  said  to  have  led  a  consistent  christian  life, 
and  died  in  the  hope  of  the  gospel. 

I  have  thus  briefly  attempted  to  portray  the  cliristian  char- 
acters of  some  wliosc  names  are  connected  with  this  church, 
names  of  those  whose  hearts  being  renewed  by  divine  grace, 
gave  the  strength  of  their  hearts  thus  renewed  to  the  building 
up  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  the  community,  and  by  whose  influ- 
ences our  christian  privileges  have  been  secured  and  the  ordi- 
nances of  religion  maintained  for  almost  a  century.  The 
names  of  others  found  on  our  church  roll,  who  have  stood  as 
manfully  for  the  truth,  and  had  equal  zeal  for  Christ  and  his 
church  in  their  respective  neighborhoods,  as  the  Stevenses  and 
the  Gambles,  might  be  mentioned,  but  the  scope  of  this  dis- 
course forbids  further  enlargement.      I  confess  that  it  is  with 


36  HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 

reluctance  that  I  forbear.  I  delight  to  linger  around  these 
precious  memories  and  to  feel  the  blessed  influence  of  these 
examples  of  exalted  faith.  I  delight  to  contemplate  the  type 
of  piety  which  that  system  of  doctrine  taught  in  our  standards, 
and  as  I  unhesitatingly  believe,  taught  in  the  word  of  God,  pro- 
duces. I  delight  to  contemplate  the  fulfillment  of  the  divine 
promises  which  are  given  to  believing  parents,  as  I  see  around 
me  the  decendents  to  the  third  and  fourth  generation  of  those, 
who  through  patience  and  self-denial,  erected  here  a  sanctuary 
to  the  worship  of  God. 

Many  of  you,  my  young  friends,  are  their  children.  A  pious 
ancestry,  though  a  priceless  legacy,  will  not  secure  your  ap- 
proval in  the  great  day.  Nothing  short  of  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  can  do  that.  That  blood  alone  can  cleanse  you 
from  all  sin.  If  ycJu  would  leave  a  name  like  theirs,  seek  for 
a  like  faith,  imitate  their  sacrifices  and  labors  and  faithful- 
ness in  Christ's  cause,  that  at  the  last  you  may  be  found  with 
them  with  your  robes  made  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
So  will  God  grant  you  acceptance  in  that  day  through  Jesus 
Christ  and  succeeding  generations  say  of  you  as  we  say  of  the 
fathers  and  mothers  of  the  past, 

"  With  us  theii'  names  shall  live 

Through  long  succeeding  years  ; 
Embalmed  with  all  our  hearts  can  give, 

Our  praitics  aud  our  tears." 


isr  o  T  E 


It  is  said  on  page  G,  that  the  Moravians  "  bokl,  iu  a  modified  form  to  a  com- 
munity of  goods."  This  practice,  though  generally  attributed  to  them,  they  do 
not  observe.  At  the  estabhsbmeut  of  Bethlehem,  the  settlers  agreed  to  work  for 
the  church  and  the  church  gave  each  one  a  support ;  at  the  same  time,  however, 
each  person  retained  his  own  private  property.  This  system  of  community  of 
labor,  or  economy  as  it  was  called,  was  abolished  in  17C2.  Bethlehem,  Nazareth, 
Litiz  and  Salem,  however,  continued  to  be  exclusively  Moravian  towns  until  1813, 
when  the  exclusive  system  was  abolished  by  the  voluntary  act  of  the  church. 
Since  that  time,  the  Moravian,  hke  other  American  churches,  have  formed  but 
one  of  the  constituent  elements  of  the  community. 


GENEKAL  HISTOKY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

From  the  First  Settlement  until  1779. 

The  early  settlement  of  Wyaluslng  was  attended  with  so 
many  interesting  incidents,  that  it  is  thought  some  account  of 
them  will  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  general  reader,  and  may 
be  a  small  contribution  to  the  common  history  of  the  country. 
In  fact  the  whole  valley  of  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, as  far  as  the  State  of  New  York,  being  in  great  part 
settled  by  emigrants  from  Connecticut,  and  the  pioneers  in  the 
upper  portions  of  it  being  in  many  cases,  the  same  persons 
who  were  active  in  the  neighborhood  of  "Wyoming  through  the 
exciting  scenes  which  transpired  there,  forms  but  one  continu- 
ous history,  having  common  characteristics  and  many  similar 
phases. 

The  Wyalusing  Creek  is  a  beautiful  stream,  which  takes  its 
rise  in  the  Northern  and  central  parts  of  Susquehanna  County, 
and  flows  in  a  southwesterly  direction  into  the  Susquehanna 
River.  Its  course  lies  through  a  valley  of  great  fertility, 
skirted  on  either  side  with  hills  of  considerable  elevation, 
which  in  some  places  have  thrown  their  spurs  to  the  water's 
edge,  and  in  others  have  receded  to  the  distance  of  half  a  mile 
or  more,  enclosing  areas  of  productive  bottom  lands,  and  af- 
fording many  scenes  of  picturesque  beauty.  This  valley,  when 
first  known  by  the  white  people,  was  heavily  timbered,  and  was 
a  famous  resort  for  game  of  various  kinds,  especially  deer.  A 
hunting  path  extended  for  some  distance  through  its  forests, 


40  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

along  ^liicli  the  red  man  pursued  his  favorite  sport.  The 
creek  meets  the  river  in  one  of  those  fine  intervales  which 
characterize  the  scenery  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  two  valleys  is  a  considerable  scope  of  slightly  roll- 
ing land,  spoken  of  by  the  early  travelers  as  the  "Plains  of 
Wyalusing.  " 

It  is  the  current  opinion  of  historians  that  the  Lenni-Lenape, 
or  Delaware  Indians,  for  many  years  occupied  the  valley  as  far 
as  Tioga,  the  south  door  of  the  Iroquois,  or  confederated  Five 
Nations,  from  which  they  were  expelled  by  tke  latter,  after  a 
long  series  of  bloody  battles,  that  ended  in  the  entire  subjuga- 
tion of  the  Delawares.  Here,  most  likely,  they  had  a  village, 
as  it  was  the  place  where  one  of  those  battles  was  fought,  which 
must  have  been  of  great  severity,  its  account  being  preserved 
in  the  traditions  of  both  nations,  and  alluded  to  by  the  Cayuga 
Chief,  who  wished  to  remove  the  Christianized  Indians  to 
Cayuga  Lake,  assigning  as  his  reason,  that  this  was  not  a 
proper  place  for  a  peaceable  people  to  live  in,  as  "  all  that 
country  had  been  stained  with  blood."*  Having  expelled  the 
Delawares,  the  Senecas  and  Oncidas,  tribes  of  the  Iroquois, 
established  villages  at  several  points  along  the  river,  one  of 
which  was  at  Wyalusing.  The  great  war-path,  leading  south- 
ward from  Tioga,  extended  along  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river 
as  far  as  Shamokin,  the  present  site  of  Sunbury,  which  for  many 
years  continued  to  be  a  place  of  general  rendezvous  for  the 
war  and  hunting  parties  of  the  Iroquois  and  their  confeder- 
ates, and  where  they  kept  a  viceroy  or  agent  to  Transact  busi- 
ness crowino;  out  of  their  relations  with  the  Southern  tribes 
and  the  Propriataries  of  Pennsylvania.  Wyalusing  being  about 
a  day's  journey  on  this  great  highway  from  Tioga,  afforded  to 
parties  a  convenient  halting  place,  its  gravelly  plains  an  excel- 
lent camping  ground,  the  abundance  of  game  in  its  forests  sup- 

*  See  Life  of  Zoisbertjor. 


GENERAL   niSTORY.  41 

plied  them  witli  venison,  and  its  lower  flats  were  well  adapted 
to  the  growth  of  corn.  These  circumstances  combined  to  make 
the  village  a  place  of  note  and  importance  among  the  aborigines 
of  the  country. 

After  the  white  people  began  to  purchase  territory  of  the 
Iroquois  and  their  allies,  the  Susquehanna  valley  below  Tioga, 
was  reserved  as  a  general  asylum  for  the  Indians  who  became 
dispossessed  of  their  lands.  In  accordance  with  this  arrange- 
ment, the  Shawancse,  who  had  been  driven  from  Florida  by  the 
Spaniards  in  1698,  were  invited  to  the  valley  and  established 
themselves  near  Plymouth.  Hither  the  Delawarcs  were  re- 
moved in  1742.  The  Nanticokes,  or  tide-water  people,  emi- 
grated from  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland  in  1748,  and  set- 
tled at  various  points  along  the  river  as  far  as  Chemung. 
Which  of  these  several  clans  occupied  the  village  at  Wyalus- 
ing,  when  it  was  first  visited  by  the  Moravian  Missionaries,  it 
is  impossible  to  tell  certainly,  but  most  likely  they  were  Dela- 
wares.  In  1756  there  was  a  considerable  village  here,  a  little 
below  the  site  of  a  more  ancient  one,  on  the  first  rise  from  the 
river  ;  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year,  the  plains  are  repre- 
sented as  being  covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  corn.  The 
natives  gave  to  this  village  the  same  name  as  the  Creek, 
Machiwihilusing,  which  we  find  alluded  to  by  the  names  Mahac- 
loosing,  Wighalusin,  Wihilusing,  (fee,  but  was  generally  known 
by  the  Avhite  people  as  Wialusing,  or  Wihilusing,  as  early  as 
1703  or  1705.*  Judging  from  the  correspondence  between 
Lieutenant  Governor  Hamilton,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Com- 
mander Elder,  in  the  autumn  of  1763,  as  well  as  some  other 
accounts  of  that  date,  it  would  be  inferred  that  Wyalusing  was 
considered  the  most  important  settlement  between  Tioga  and 
Wyoming.     Near  the  present  Sugar  Run  Ferry  was  an  ancient 


*  Sec  Miner's  Hist.,  P.  66,  Mom.  Moravian  Church,  vol.  1,  P.  87. 


42  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

burying  ground,  and  until  quite  recently  it  was  a  common  oc- 
currence, after  the  subsidence  of  the  river  freshets,  to  find 
numerous  bones,  and  not  unfrequently  entire  human  skeletons, 
with  pieces  of  pottery  washed  out  of  the  alluvial  soil.  In  one 
instance,  a  few  years  since,  there  was  discovered  an  unbroken 
earthen  pot,  containing  the  bones  of  a  small  animal,  about  the 
size  of  a  woodcliuck,  which  undoubtedly  had  been  placed  in 
the  grave  of  some  Indian  warrior  as  provision  for  the  way  to 
the  good  hunting  ground  beyond.  The  various  relics  of  In- 
dian villages,  as  arrow-heads,  burnt  sandstones,  pipes,  hatchets, 
pestles,  &c.,  have  been  picked  up  in  great  abundance,  but  un- 
fortunately no  collection  of  them  has  been  preserved.  After 
the  removal  of  the  Christianized  Indians  in  1772,  there  were 
no  permanent  habitations  of  the  red  men  in  this  part  of  the 
valley,  although  occasional  stragglers  were  sometimes  seen  here 
as  late  as,  or  later  than,  1790. 

It  is  vrell  known  that  the  territory  of  Northern  Pennsylvania 
was  for  a  long  time  the  subject  of  fierce  and  even  bloody 
dispute  between  the  people  of  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania. 
Owing  to  the  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  geography  of  the 
country,  conflicting  grants  of  land  were  not  unfrequently 
made  in  the  royal  charters,  which  afterward  were  the  occasion 
of  much  perplexity.  Without  ^minutely  tracing  the  history  of 
these  royal  grants,  it  will  be  remembered  that  April  20,  1662, 
King  Charles  II.  granted  to  the  colony  of  Connecticut  that 
part  of  the  old  Plymouth  territory  bounded  on  the  cast  by 
Narragansett  Bay,  on  the  north  by  the  line  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Plantation,  on  the  south  by  the  sea,  and  on  the  west  by 
the  south  sea.  This  grant  was  understood  to  include  all  that 
tract  between  the  forty-first  and  forty-second  parallels  of  lati- 
tude from  the  Narragansett  Bay  westerly  across  the  conti- 
nent.    Under  this  grant  in  1753,  a  number  of  persons,  con- 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  43 

sisting  first  of  840,  and  afterward  increased  to  1,200,  formed 
themselves  into  a  company,  under  tlic  name  of  the  "  Connecti- 
cut Susquchann:i  Company,"  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  of 
the  Indians  the  hinds  claimed  under  the  Connecticut  charter 
on  the  Susquehanna.  Accordingly  at  a  conference  held  with 
the  Six  Nations  at  Albany,  the  company  July  11,  1754,  pur- 
chased for  five  thousand  dolhirs  all  thnt  tract  beginning  ten 
miles  east  of  the  Susquclianna  and  extending  westward  120 
miles,  lying  between  the  forty-first  and  forty-second  parallels 
of  latitude,  and  in  1762,  the  company  planted  their  first 
colony  in  Wyoming. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  IGSl,  Charles  11.  granted  to  William 
Penn  a  tract  of  land  extending  west  from  the  Delaware  River, 
through  five  degrees  of  longitude,  :lnd  from  the  foi'tieth  to  the 
forty-third  degrees  of  latitude,  excepting  a  segment  of  twelve 
miles  radius  from  Newcastle.  At  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix, 
November  5,  1768,  the  Proprietors  of  Pennsylvania  purchased 
of  the  Six  Nations  the  disputed  lands,  and  from  this  time 
commenced  those  fierce  disputes  for  the  soil,  which  have  been 
known  as  the  Pennemite  and  Yankee  wars.  The  claim  of 
Connecticut  was  based  upon  the  o;i)-lier  royal  grant,  earlier 
Indian  purchase  and  earlier  occupancy,  that  of  Pennsylvania 
on  the  decision  of  the  Iloj'al  Commission  establishing  the 
boundaries  between  the  Provinces  of  Connecticut  and  New- 
York  in  1GG4. 

The  Susquehanna  Company  laid  out  their  lands  into  town- 
ships containing  about  16,000  acres  each,  and  these  townships 
were  subdivided  into  shares,  half  shares  and  smaller  portions,  to 
meet  the  wants  of  the  settlers.  As  a  means  of  keeping  off  the 
Pennsylvania  claimants,  these  lots  were  usually  assigned  on 
the  condition  of  "  manning  their  rights,"  that  is,  of  defending 
by  force  their  possessions  against  intruders.     One   of  these 


44 


GENERAL   HISTORY. 


townships,  Springfield,  which  was  about  five  miles  square,  in- 
cluded a  large  part  of  the  present  Township  of  Wyalusing. 
It  was  divided  almost  diagonally  by  the  Susquehanna  River, 
the  opposite  corners  being  within  100  rods  of  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  river,  and  the  eastern  part  of  the  township  was  divided 
in  the  same  way  by  the  Wyalusing  Creek,  the  corner  being 
about  150  rods  cast  of  it,  and  the  mouth  of  the  creek  about 
midway  on  the  diagonal  joining  the  adjacent  corners.  This 
was  one  of  the  seventeen  townships  in  which,  under  the  com- 
promises for  the  settlement  of  disputed  titles  between  the  Con- 
necticut and  the  Pennsylvania  claimants,  on  lands  occupied 
previous  to  the  Decree  of  Trenton,  the  Connecticut  titles  were 
accounted  valid. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Susquehanna  Company,  held  in  Hart- 
ford in  17G8,  it  was  resolved  that  five  toAvnships,  each  five 
miles  square,  should  be  surveyed  and  granted,  each  to  forty 
settlers,  being  proprietors,  on  condition  that  those  settlers 
should  remain  on  the  ground — these  were  the  Townships  of 
Wilkes-Barre,  Hanover,  Kingston,  Plymouth  and  Pittston. 
Subsequently  three  townships  were  surveyed  on  the  West 
Branch.  From  17G9  until  1772  the  records  of  the  Company 
contain  numerous  resolves  in  regard  to  the  distribution  of  the 
land  among  the  different  proprietors.  At  this  latter  date 
there  were  at  least  two  hundred  settlers  on  the  purchase  and 
frequent  transfers  of  lands  were  made,  so  that  much  of  tlie 
time  of  the  Company's  meetings  was  taken  up  in  arranging 
these  individual  details.  In  order  to  expedite  this  part  of  the 
business,  and  to  relieve  the  company  from  embarrassment,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  make  surveys,  and  appropriate 
lands  and  confirm  titles  to  the  settlers. 

Accordingly,  "  At  a  meeting  of  y°  Susquehanna  Company 
duly  warned,  held  at  Norwich,  April  yo  1st,  1772. 


GENERAL   UISTORY.  45 

Voted,  that  s'^  committee  are  likewise  empowered  to  order 
and  direct  where  new  townships  shall  be  laid  of  five  miles 
Sfiuare,  divided  into  fifty-three  rights  or  shares,  three  of  which 
shall  be  for  public  use,  when  they  shall  be  applied  toby  twenty 
proprietors,  by  tnemselves  or  agents,  for  lands  to  settle  on  as 
a  part  of  their  proprietors'  rights  ;  Provided,  always,  (here  are 
the  conditions  of  payment,  &c.,)  that  there  shall  be  twenty 
settlors  settled  within  each  of  s'^  townships  Avithin  two  years 
from  y*'  time  of  laying  out  y"  same,  in  order  that  s'^  proprie- 
tors of  s*^  township  shall  hold  y*  same." 

At  the  meeting  held  at  Windham,  March  9,  1774,  the  time 
of  settling  was  extended  to  three  years,  "  on  account  of 
troubles  now  existing  in  y'^  purchase." 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  the  plan  of  the  Company,  each  town- 
ship embraced  16,000  acres,  which  was  divided  into  lots  of 
300  acres  each,  and  each  settler  was  allowed  to  hold  two  lots 
of  GOO  acres.  The  lots  for  public  use  were  for  the  support  of 
the  minister  and  school-master ;  the  proprietors  thus  at  the 
outset  making  liberal  provision  for  the  religious  and  secular 
education  of  their  children. 

This  Committee  was  required  to  keep  full  and  accurate 
records  of  their  doings,  but  after  the  most  diligent  search  I 
have  been  unable  to  find  them.*  The  survey  of  Springfield 
must  have  been  made  in  1772,  as  on  the  20th  of  August  of 
that  year  a  survey  is  recorded,  one  side  of  which  is  the 
Springfield  township  lino. 

The  plan  adopted  by    the  committee  in    the  distribution  of 

*  There  are  In  the  Library  of  tbo  Connecticut  Historical  Society  at  Uartford,  four  vol- 
umes of  records,  two  of  wliich  contain  copies  of  their  deeds,  charters  and  lints  of  orij^i- 
u:il  proprietors,  constitution  of  the  Couipnny,  \-c.  One  contains  the  minutes  of  the 
company's  meetinxH,  and  the  other  is  a  record  of  deeds  and  surveys,  marked  "  Liber  <j.," 
exteiidiUR  from  1781  to  the  close  of  the  Company's  existence.  There  are  also  in  the 
t'oiiimisssionf-rs  office  at  Wilkes-liarre,  three  volumes  of  the  records  of  deeds,  attach- 
ments, itc.  All  of  these  I  have  carelully  examined,  for  dates  and  facts  respectinR  the 
company's  acts  concerning  the  settlement  of  these  upper  townships.  There  ara  missing 
the  records  of  the  town  meetings,  the  records  of  the  committee  oi  tha  company,  the  liat 
Oi  proprietors  ordered  to  be  made  in  IT'^tj  and  several  volumes  of  the  records  of  deeds. 


46  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

the  lands  Avas  to  give  a  township  to  a  number  of  proprie- 
tors in  common.  It  was  then  cut  up  into  the  required 
number  of  lots  and  numbered,  and  each  proprietor  drew  two 
numbers  which  were  his  portion  of  the  township.  The  holders 
of  these  lots  were  required  to  reside  within  the  purchase  for 
at  least  two  years.  Who  Avere  the  original  proprietors  of 
Springfield  it  is  now  impossible  to  determine.  The  records 
at  the  Land  office  in  Ilarrisburg  give  the  names  of  the  holders 
of  Connecticut  title  in  1808,  when  the  various  claims  were 
adjusted,  but  the  chain  of  title  back  to  the  original  proprie- 
tors is  in  most  cases  lost. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  records  will  give  a  clue  to 
a  few  of  them  : 

"  To  all  whom  it  may  concern. — Whereas  at  a  meeting  of 
y®  Susquehanna  company  duly  warned  ;ind  convened  at  Hart- 
ford, December  28,  17C9,  it  was  voted  tliat  Joseph  Jacobs,  of 
Pliiladelpliia,  should  be  entitled  to  one  whole  share  in  y*-'  Sus- 
quehanna purchase  for  y*^  consideration  in  .s'U'oto  mentioned,* 
and  where  as  s'^  Joseph  Jacobs  by  his  deed  poll  dated  June 
13,  1TG9,"!"  for  y°  consideration  therein  mentioned,  did  grant 
and  convey  y"  same  whole  share  unto  his  brother  Israel 
Jacobs,  knov,-  y'^  that  I  y-  s'^  Israel  Jacobs  do  hereby  empower 
and  authorize  my  trusty  friend  Benjamin  Pawling  in  my 
place  and  stead,  to  take  up  and  settle  y°  s"  share,  and  finally 
to  do  and  perform  all  sucli  matters  and  tilings  needful  and 
necessary  and  lawful  to  be  done  and  jjerform.ed  touching  and 
concerning  y"  same  as  fully  and  freely  and  absolutely  as  I 
myself  might  or  could  do  were  I  personally  present. 


*Tho  coiisiacration  was  one  full  rijjlit  or  shai'c  Kivi-ii  Josfiih  Jac-olis  at  tlip  aloovo  iiamod 
mectui'.f,  for  bailing  Ciiptaiii  iJurlicn,  who  wms  oaptiiiiHl  Ijy  Ci.ptaiii  Amos  Ot;<lon,  ami 
.Slicriff.Joliii  .IcniiinK,  Scptoinbrr  ITiii),  and  lodged  lu  prison  at  I'liilaricliiliia.  This  wan 
tUi>  sijfoud  raid  niado  by  the  autlioritioa  of  Ponuwylvauia  upon  thu  Couufcticut  Httllurn  iu 
that  yuar. 

t  riioru  ia  probably  a  mistake  iu  the  date  Lore,  us  tho  rigLt  was  uotgrculcd  until  Decem- 
ber, aud  the  builiuii  did  uot  occur  imtil  Soptombcr, 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  47 

In  witness  whereof  I  liavc  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal 
this  25th  day  of  March,  1777.  Israel  Jacobs. 

There  is  also  the  following  survey  on  record  :  "  A  piece 
of  land  surveyed  to  John  Reine.  Beginning  at  a  walnut  tree 
below  Wialusingtown,  thence  running  westerly  by  the  Susque- 
hanna river  161  chains  to  y'^  mouth  of  Wyalusing  creek, 
thence  up  y®  creek  so  far  as  y®  old  Pennsylvania  survey  made 
to  Job  Chillaway,  thence  easterly  by  s**  survey  till  it  comes  to 
s  Susquehanna  river,  thence  up  the  river  to  the  first  men- 
tioned bound,  containing  about  025  acres  of  land.  Made  1st 
day  of  June,  A.D.,  1777.  Y®  above  pitch  is  made  on  s'' 
Ilogsboon  proprietor's  right,  he  being  an  original  proprietor." 

From  some  broken  and  defaced  records  of  surveys  madjt  by 
Samuel  Gordon,  it  appears  that  in  1774  there  was  surveyed 
a  lot  for  Thomas  "Wigton,*  and  one  to  James  Quick,  in  1770 
one  lot  to  Justus  Gaylord,  Sr.,  and  in  1777  one  lot  for  himself. 

Through  all  of  this  disputed  territory,  the  Proprietors  had 
surveyed  for  themselves  tracts  of  the  finest  lands,  which  were 
generally  leased  to  their  friends  for  a  number  of  years,  on 
certain  conditions,  one  of  which  was,  that  they  should  defend 
the  Proprietors  against  all  other  claimants — the  remaining 
lands  were  left  "to  reward  the  enterprise  of  such  friends  as 
might  be  able  to  render  assistance  in  meeting  with  defiance, 
and  resisting  with  effect,  the  '  moss  trooping  '  yankecs  from 
the  east."t  In  accordance  with  this  policy  there  was  survey- 
ed by  Charles  Stewart,  deputy  surveyor,  in  October,  1773,  a 
tract  called  the  *'  Manor  of  Dundee,"  containing  8520  acres 
and  allowance  on  a  "  warrant  of  the  Honorable  the  Propri- 
etors of  Pennsylvania,  situate  on  the  North  Easterly  Branch 
of  the  Susquehanna,  and  on  a  large  stream  called  Wyaloos- 

•From  the  same  paper  It  would  Bccm  that  tho  township  was  surveyed  on  his  petition . 
t  MrsEK'8  nistory,  p.  107. 


48  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

ing."  This  tract  included  'all  the  rich  bottom  lands  on  the 
river  except  the  Pawlingt  ract,  and  embraced  a  narrow  strip  on 
both  sides  the  creek  for  nearly  six  miles.  These  were  leased 
to  one  Depew,  and  others,  and  occupied  by  them  for  some 
time.  The  plan  of  the  Proprietors  manifestly  being,  that  fail- 
ing to  dislodge  the  yankces  from  the  lower  part  of  the  valley, 
they  would  seize  the  best  part  of  the  land  above  them,  and 
thus  effectually  hem  them  in.  I  have  a  list  of  twenty-one 
families  who  were  occupying  lands  above  Wyoming  under  the 
Pennsylvania  title,  previous  to  the  Revolution.  Of  these  there 
where  two  in  Tunkhannock,  one  at  Blackwalnut,  one  at  Lacey- 
ville,  three  in  Wysox,  and  most  of  the  remainder  at  Wyalu- 
sing.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  Connecticut  people  were  not  idle. 
The  beautiful  and  fertile  valley  of  the  Wyalusing  was  too  valu- 
able a  prize  to  be  lost  without  an  effort.  They  deteimined 
that  no  part  of  the  purchase  should  be  relinquished  without 
the  most  determined  and  persistent  endeavors  to  retain  it. 
Therefore,  in  1773,  Amos  York  and  x^athan  Kingsley  came 
up  the  river  and  began  work  on  their  lands,  and  Justus  Gay- 
lord,  Samuel  Fitch,  James  Wells  and  four  or  five  other  famil- 
ies followed  them  within  the  next  two  or  three  years.  There 
were  in  this  frontier  settlement  altogether  about  twenty  or 
more  families  prior  to  the  Revolution. 

In  addition  to  the  constant  irritation  which  grew  out  of  this 
conflict  of  title  and  occupancy,  the  contest  between  the  colon- 
ics and  tke  mother  country  had  culminated  in  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  and  open  war;  Indian  hostilities  began  to  be 
imminent  and  even  in  these  remote  settlements  the  inhabitants 
began  to  range  themselves  on  one  side  or  the  other,  for  the 
impending  conflict.  The  Connecticut  people,  true  to  their 
traditional  love  for  independence,  without  exception,  were  on 
the  side  of  Congress,  while  the  Pennsylvania  claimants,  urged 
by  feelings  of  personal  animosity  against  the  Whigs,  growing 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  49 

out  of  disputed  land  titles,  generally  espoused  the  cause  of 
the  crown,  and  determined  to  use  this  as  a  favorable  opportun- 
ity, to  enlist  the  aid  of  the  loyalists  and  Indians  to  drive  the 
Yankees  entirely  out  of  the  valley.  Such  were  the  dangers 
which  threatened  the  settlement,  that  it  was  contemplated  to 
build  a  fort  at  Wyalusing,'butthis  design  was  abandoned  on  the 
representation  made  by  the  wily  savages,  who  professing 
peace,  were  at  the  same  time  planning  mischief.  At  a  talk 
held  at  Wyoming  we  find  the  following  paragraph  :  "  We 
are  unwilling  to  have  forts  built  up  the  river,  but  wish  you 
would  be  content  to  build  forts  here  among  the  lower  settlements. 
A  fort  at  Wyalusing  will  block  up  our  new-made,  wide,  and 
smooth  road,  and  again  make  us  strangers  to  one  another."* 
It  seems  surprising  that  the  fears  of  the  settlers  should  have 
been  so  easily  quieted,  especially  when  it  was  generally 
believed  that  the  Indians  were  planning  hostile  movements, 
to  which  this  upper  settlement  would  be  particularly  exposed. 
Then  too  it  was  well  known  that  many  of  the  people  were 
disaffected  toward  Congress,  and  were  secretly  plotting  with 
the  enemies  of  the  country,  and  from  Tioga  or  Sheshequin, 
which  were  then  exclusively  Indian  towns,  from  which  hostile 
bands  could  descend  the  river  in  a  few  hours,  and  murder  or 
capture  the  inhabitants  before  their  movements  could  be  known 
or  the  people  succored  by  the  stronger  settlements  fifty  or  sixty 
miles  below.  What  were  the  consequences  of  their  being 
left  thus  unprotected  the  sequel  will  soon  disclose.  The 
loyalists,  whose  strong  hold  and  centre  of  influence  was  at 
Wyalusing,  being  left  free  to  carry  on  their  alliance  with  the 
Indians  for  the  extermination  of  the  Yankees  without  restraint, 
tvere  noio  exceedingly  active  in  developing  their  plans. 

That  the  reader  may  be  able  to  judge   for  himself  how  far 


*MncEn's  Hietory,  page  182. 


50  GENERAL   niSTORY. 

these  men  were  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  battle  of 
Wyoming,  and  the  outrages  which  followed  it,  I  will  quote  at 
some  length  from  papers  which  have  never  been  published,  to 
which  I  had  access  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Steuben 
Jenkins,  of  Wyoming.  The  first  is  from  the  petition  of 
Alexander  Patterson,*  presented  to  the  Legislature  of 
Pennsylvania  in  1804. 

"  In  the  year  1776,  there  were  a  number  of  inhabitants, 
-settlers  on  the  North-east  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  near 
Wyalusing,  under  Pennsylvania  title.  Among  these  were 
two  brothers  by  the  name  of  Pawling,  of  a  respectable  family, 
from  the  county  of  Montgomery,  who  paid  a  thousand  pounds 
in  gold  and  silver  for  their  farm  at  Wyalusing,  unto  Job 
Gillaway,  a  useful  and  well-informed  Indian,  who  had 
obtained  a  grant  for  said  land  from  the  late  proprietors  of  the 
State.  Among  the  settlers  were  Messrs.  Depue,  Seacord, 
Vanderlip,  and  many  others,  wealthy  farmers.  The  Yankees 
at  Wyoming  being  more  numerous,  and  though  at  the  distance 
of  sixty  miles,  insisted  that  the  Pennsylvania  settlers  should 
come  to  Wyoming,  and  train  and  associate  under  Yankee 
officers  of  their  own  appointment.  As  may  be  supposed,  the 
proposals  were  very  obnoxious  to  the  inhabitants  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  very  properly  refused,  alleging  that  they  would 
associate  by  themselves,  and  would  not  be  commanded  by 
intruders,  who  had  so  repeatedly  sacked  the  well-disposed 
inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania,  and  at  that  time   bid  defiance  to 


♦Patterson  was  a  zealous  defender  of  the  Pennsylvanlans.  As  the  agent  of  Governor 
Penu,  in  17G9,  he  brought  to  Easton  jail  tho  first  40  intruders  "who  had  attempted  to  seat 
themselves  at  Wyomiuf,'."  The  next  year  he  "  was  the  most  active,  who  ajjain  took  their 
garriHoa  witli  much  cuterpriHe."  In  tho  Bocoud  Penuamito  war  betook  a  con8pi<'ious  and 
disgraceful  part.  As  the  Justice  for  Northampton  county,  in  1783,  he  continued  for 
nearly  two  years  to  harrass  the  Connecticut  people  in  ovory  way  his  ingenuity  eould  de- 
vise. Several  persous  were  killed,  many  were  sent  to  prison,  crops  were  destroyed, 
buildings  burned,  families  sent  adrift  homsless,  civil  war  and  confusion  reigned,  and  tho 
whole  valley  presented  a  si;cno  of  desolation  and  woe.  Such  a  man  would  not  be  likely  to 
unfavorably  misrepresent  his  friends,  whom  he  pledged  his  honor  to  defend,  twenty 
years  after  the  colonies  had  achieved  their  independence. 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  51 

its  laws  and  jurisdictioD.  This  gave  a  pretext  for  the  Yan- 
kees [calling]  them  tories.  They,  therefore,  went  in  force 
and  tied  the  Pennsylvania  settlers  and  brought  them  to  Wyo- 
ming with  all  their  movables,  and  confined  them  in  a  log 
house,  until  the  Indians  who  lived  in  the  neif'hborhood  of 
Wyalusing,  and  loved  the  Pennsylvanians  and  at  that  time 
were  well  affected  toward  the  United  Statea,  some  of  whom 
were  in  our  array — those  Indians  came  to  Wyoming  and 
requested  that  the  Pennsylvania  people  should  be  released 
from  confinement.  After  some  altercation,  and  the  Indians 
declaring  they  would  complain  to  Congress,  they  were 
released ;  and  then  on  their  return  without  property  were 
ambushed  and  fired  upon  by  the  Yankees.  The  event  of  all 
this  was,  that  the  Pennsylvania  people  Mere  so  harassed  by  the 
intruders  that  they  were  driven  to  seek  an  asylum  with  the 
Indians,  and  at  length  retired  to  Niagara  for  protection.  It 
was  well  known  at  that  time,  on  the  frontiers  of  Northampton 
and  Northumberland,  that  the  conduct  of  those  lankees 
occasioned  the  secession  of  the  Five  Nations  from  the  United 
States.  As  was  natural  to  imagine,  those  Pennsylvania 
settlers  who  had  been  so  cruelly  robbed  of  their  property 
would  endeavor  to  regain  it.  Their  address  and  moving 
complaints,  induced  Joseph  Brant,  a  well-known  Indian  chief 
and  Colonel  Butler,  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  to 
come  zvith  them  to  Wyoming,  with  a  number  of  Indians,  for 
the  recovery  of  their  property,  goods,  and  chatties.''  Then 
follows  a  characteristic  account  of  the  battle  of  Wyoming  too 
long  for  quotation. 

The  following  quotations  from  the  other  side  show  beyond 
question  that  some  of  the  people  here  were  in  intimate  commu- 
nication with  the  British  and  Indians.  1st.  From  Elisha  Hard- 


52  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

ing's*  letter  to  Charles  Miner  :  "  In  the  spring  of  1777  the 
inhabitants  or  men  above  Buttermilk  Falls,  with  a  few  excep- 
tions, went  to  Niagara  and  continued  there  until  fall.  They  then 
returned  home  and  took  the  Freeman's  oath,  and  continued  until 
about  the  first  of  May,  1778,  and  returned  to  the  enemy  and  soon 
came  down  with  a  party  of  Indians  and  Rangers  with  /rafts 
and  took  their  families — came  down  as  far  as  Buttermilk 
Falls  and  returned,  taking  one  man  prisoner."  Colonel 
Jenkinsf  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Kingsbury,  written  about  1801 
(the  date  is  torn  off)  says  :  "  In  a  special  manner  the  three 
Pawlings  who  left  our  settlement  the  year  before  the  battle 
in  1778,  joined  General  Butler,  were  commissioned  as  officers 
in  the  Rangers.  They  afterwards  returned  home  in  the 
winter  season,  made  arrangement  for  their  friends  and  then 
joined  Butler  early  in  the  (season)  of  1778.  A  Captain 
Stansbury  was  also  aiding  the  Tories." 

These  quotations  from  the  statements  of  persons  who  were 
upon  the  ground  and  had  the  best  oportunities  for  information 
as  well  as  others  which  might  be  given,  establish  the  following 
particulars  :  1st.  That  many  of  the  most  violent  tories  were 
congregated  at  Wyalusing,  and  were  claiming  land  under 
Pennsylvania  title. 

2d.  That  they  were  active  instigators  of  the  Indiana  to 
hostilities,  and  to    a   great   degree  the  responsible  agents  in 


*HardinK  was  born  in  Counecticut,  17G3,  camo  to  Wj'ominR  in  1770,  and  bolon^red  to  a 
family  which  Buffered  much  during  the  troubles  which  afflicted  Wyoiuini,',  and  several  of 
them  were  killed.  Miner,  who  was  indebted  to  him  for  many  of  the  facts  etated  in  his 
history,  says  of  him:  "  A  man  of  strouRmind  and  retentive  memory,  he  read  much  and 
retained  everything  worth  remembering."    He  died  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  hie  ag«. 

t  Colonel  John  Jenkins  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  In 
Wyoming.  In  1777  he  was  ambushed  and  captured  by  a  party  of  Indians  nearM'yalnsing, 
subsequently  was  taken  to  Albany  to  be  exchanged  for  an  Indian  chief,  the  chief  having 
died  of  smallpox,  the  savages  were  with  dilhculty  restraiiuul  from  killing  him.  After  the 
massacre,  ho  joined  Captain  Spaldings  company  and  continued  in  the  service  until  thn 
close  of  the  war.  In  1779  ho  joined  Sullivan's  expedition  as  a  guide.  As  superintendent 
of  surveys  for  the  Susquehanna  company  he  had  acquired  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
county  and  people,  and  performed  bis  duties  to  entire  satisfaction.  He  died  in  1827  in 
the  seventy-third  year  ol  liie  age,  after  a  life  of  great  activity,  and  having  held  eoveraj 
important  civil  officers  in  the  county  of  Luzerne. 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  53 

bringing  about  the  terrible  massacre  at    Wyoming,  and  were 
leaders  and  participators  in  it. 

3d.  They  were  led  on  by  hatred  toward  the  Connecticut 
people,  and  desire  to  acquire  their  la-nds  though  not  intending 
to  accomplish  their  extermination,  "were  censurable  for  employ- 
ing as  allies,  hostile  Indians,  whose  acts  of  rapine  and  murder 
they  could  not  control. 

Mr  York,  who  was  an  earnest  defender  of  the  rights  of 
Connecticut,  occupied  a  large  tract  of  land  under  Connecticut ' 
title,  and  was  also  an  ardent  Whig — was  the  first  object  of 
their  vengance.  lie*  had  been  one  of  the  foremest  to  cast 
his  fortunes  at  Wyalusing,  and  being  possessed  of  consider- 
able wealth,  brought  with  him  horses,  cattle,  and  sheep  to 
stock  his  farm  and  had  provided  his  family  with  a  large  quantity 
of  necessary  supplies,  so  that  there  was  every  prospect  for 
their  comfort  and  enjoyment  in  their  new  home.  His  farm, 
that  now  occupied  by  Jackson  and  Chester  Hollenback, 
included  a  part  of  the  clearings  of  the  Moravians.  But  his 
enemies  had  secretly  planned  his  abduction,  which  they  were 
now  ready  to  cari-y  into  execution  through  the  aid  of  their 
savage  allies,  and  thus  destroy  the  peace  and  comfort  of  his 
family. 

About  the  middle  of  February,  1777,  there  was  a  very 
severe  storm,  snow  falling  to  the  depth  of  several  feet. 
During  each  evening  of  the  storm,  on  the  12th  and  13th,  a 
negro  came  to  his  house  on  some  trifling  errand  and  remained 
until  bed  time.  The  character  of  the  negro  and  the  frivolus 
excuses  he  made  for  coming  out  in  such  a  storm,  awakened 
the  suspicions  of  the  family  that  all  was  not  right.  Early 
the  next  morning,  the  14th,  Mr.  York  rode  to  the  old  mission) 

*The  Yorks  belonged  to  the  old  Connecticut  families.  James,  the  ancestor  of  Amos 
York,  came  from  Eufjland  and  settled  first  at  Braiutree,  thence  he  removed  to  Bo.stou, 
aadlinally  went  to  Stouingtoain  1670.  Amos,  the  great  grandsoa  of  his  was  born  about 
1730. 


54  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

village  where  several  families  were  living,  and  without  sus- 
picion, entered  the  house  of  a  supposed  friend  and  received  a 
cordial  welcome.  But  it  was  the  malicious  welcome  of  a 
treacherous  enemy.  •  Between  forty  and  fifty  Indians,  led  on 
by  two  Pennsylvania  tories,  one  of  whom  was  Parshall  Terry, 
Jr.,  had  arrived  at  the  settlement  and  were  waiting  there 
during  the  storm.  The  moment  they  saw  him  they  gave  the 
war  whoop,  and  his  white  neighbor  told  him  he  was  their 
prisoner.  Fourteen  of  the  savages  repaired  with  Mr.  York  to 
his  house  for  plunder.  The  family  were  waiting  their  morn- 
inof  meal  anxious  for  his  return,  and  when  they  saw  him 
attended  by  his  savage  escort,  they  met  him  with  heartrend- 
inof  cries  of  distress.  Fearful  anticipations  painted  the  scene 
in  most  dreadful  colors.  What  but  a  general  massacre  could 
thev  expect  from  their  savage  foes,  armed  with  rifle,  toma- 
hawk and  scalping  knife,  to  whom  the  British  Government 
had  promised  a  reward  for  scalps  taken  from  the  enemy  ! 
Their  terors  were  in  a  measure  allayed,  when  they  were  told 
that  they  were  not  to  be  killed,  but  the  father  must  go  with 
them  as  a  prisoner.  Then  commenced  a  scene  of  general 
pillage.  The  house  was  plundered  of  most  of  their  bedding, 
wearing  apparel,  meat  and  grain  which  were  loaded  upon 
sleds,  to  which  were  attached  his  oxen  and  horses.  His  cattle 
and  flocks  were  collected  and  the  best  of  them  were  taken  ; 
still  enough  was  left  for  the  comfortable  sustenance  of  the 
family  until  spring.  As  Mr.  York  was  talking  with  his  family 
and  giving  them  directions  how  to  proceed  in  his  absence,  an 
Indian  struck  him  a  blow  which  felled  him  in  the  snow.  He 
rose,  gave  his  wife  one  earnest,  loving,  tearful  look,  his  last 
farewell,  departed  witli  his  captors,  and  she  never  saw  him 
again.  The  journey  was  one  of  indiscribable  suffering  from 
exposure  to  the  cold  as  well  as   from  grief  of  mind.     Mr. 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  65 

York  was  compeJlod  to  Avatcli  the  flock  his  own  industry  had 
raised,  and  drive  them  at  the  pleasure  of  his  plunderers.  The 
first  day  the  trail  went  to  the  mouth  of  the  Wisaukin,  where 
they  lodged  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Strope,  and  the  second  to 
Tioga.  Mr.  York  was  taken  to  Canada  and  was  subsequently 
exchanged,  and  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Connecticut, 
where  hearing  of  the  disastrous  battle  of  Wyoming,  and 
learning  nothing  of  his  family,  he  fell  sick  of  fever  and  died 
nine  days  before  Mrs.  York  reached  there.  The  subsequent 
history  of  the  family  has  been  related  in  another  place,  it 
need  only  be  added  that  one  of  Mr.  York's  daughters  married 
Job  Turrell,  and  another  married  Daniel  Turrell,  who  became 
parents  of  large  and  influential  families,  the  former  in  Con- 
necticut, the  latter  in  Susquekanna  county. 

In  Nov.,  1777,  Lieut.,  son  of  Col.  Jenkins  who  was  on  a  trip  of 
observation  up  the  river,  was  waylaid  and  captured  by  a  lurking 
band  of  Indians.  Lemuel  Fitch  was  also  taken  with  him;  and 
at  Standing  Stone  they  captured  Elemuel  Fitzgerald.  Of  this 
person,  Mr.  Harding,  in  the  letter  before  alluded  to,  tells  the 
following  anecdote  :  "  The  Indians  and  their  allies  took  Fitz- 
gerald as  far  as  Wysox,  where  they  placed  him  on  a  flax  brake 
and  told  him  he  must  renounce  his  rebel  principles  and  declare 
for  the  king  or  die.  '  Well,'  said  the  stout-hearted  old  fellow, 
'  I  am  old  and  have  but  little  time  to  live  anyhow,  and  I  had 
rather  die  now,  a  friend  to  my  country,  than  live  ever  so  long 
and  die  a  tory.'  "  They  released  him,  however,  and  he  found 
his  way  back  to  Wyoming.  After  peace  he  came  back  to  his 
old  home,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  This  incident 
is  characteristic  of  the  spirit  of  the  men  who  made  their  homes 
in  this  valley  at  that  early  day,  hewed  down  its  forests,  endur- 
ed all  sorts  of  privations  and  hardships,  and  the  fruit  of  whose 
labors  we  now  enjoy. 


56  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

Fitch  and  Jenkins  were  taken  to  Niagara,  and  from  thence 
to  Montreal,  when  Jenkins  was  taken  to  Albany,  and  Fitch 
was  released.  He  made  his  way  back  to  Wyoming  where  he 
died.  Messrs.  York,  Jenkins  and  Fitch  were  the  first  prison- 
ers taken  out  of  the  valley.  The  object  thus  far  seems  to 
have  been  not  to  kill,  but  to  intimidate  the  people,  by  captur- 
ing the  most  active  and  influential  patriots,  and  by  this  means 
induce  the  others  to  leave  the  country. 

Nathan  Kingsley  was  another  one  of  the  first  settlers  in 
Wyalusing.  He  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  belonged 
to  one  of  the  most  noted  families  in  that  State,  He  was  a 
man  of  wealth  and  influence  in  that  early  day.  He  occupied 
the  old  log  house  now  standing  on  the  lands  of  Mrs.  Welles,  a 
few  rods  east  of  the  railroad,  and  north  of  the  depot.  This 
house,  a  view  of  which  is  given  facing  this  sketch,  is  on  lands 
adjoining  the  York  property,  and  was  built  about  1768,  and 
for  a  time  occupied  by  the  celebrated  missionary,  Hcckewelder. 
It  is,  without  doubt,  the  oldest  house  in  the  county.  Here 
Kingsley,  by  means  of  great  watchfulness  aud  prudence,  lived 
for  some  time  unmolested  by  the  Indians,  but  at  length  in 
June,  1778,  was  captured  by  them  and  taken  to  Niagara. 
After  a  confinement  of  six  months  he  was  released  and 
returned  to  Wyoming,  whither  his  family  had  fled,  before  his 
capture.  It  was  during  his  captivity  (Nov.  2,  1778)  that  his 
son  Nathan  Kingsley,  Jr.,  was  killed,  and  another  son 
together  Avith  Frances  Slocum  was  carried  into  captivity. 
The  story  of  the  capture  of  Frances,  and  of  the  discovery  of 
her  by  her  brother  after  an  absence  of  sixty  years,  as  told  by 
Mr.  Miner,  is  one  of  the  most  thrilling  incidents  of  the  Revo- 
lution, and  has  been  so  frequently  republished  as  to  be  famil- 
iar to  all  the  readers  of  our  early  history.  Mr.  Kingsley  had 
but  one    son   left,    Warrum,    who   married   into   the  Turrell 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  57 

family,  went  to  Connecticut  where  he  died.  After  troubles 
in  the  valley  in  a  measure  ceased,  Mr.  Kingsley  returned  to 
Wyalusing,  where  he  lived  for  several  years.  Unfortunately 
the  old  man  acquired  intemperate  habits  and  became  very 
poor,  so  that  he  became  a  town  charge  and  his  keeping  was 
sold  to  James  Anderson,  who  removed  west  where  Kingsley 
died,  it  is  said  by  the  falling  of  a  tree,  about  the  year  1800. 
He  was  an  intrepid  pioneer  in  this  county,  and  removing  so 
early  from  Wyoming,  his  name  is  seldom  mentioned  in  their 
records.  The  people  of  Wyoming  being  shut  out  from  the 
usual  sources  of  information  in  regard  to  public  affairs, 
established  a  post  to  Hartford,  and  Mr.  Kingsley  was  a 
constant  contributor  to  its  support.  In  May,  1787,  he  was 
commissioned  one  of  the  Judges  of  Luzerne  County,  and  on 
the  27th  sat  on  the  Bench  at  the  first  court  held  there.  This 
office  he  resigned  January  14,  1790,  on  account  of  the  great 
difficulty  for  a  man  of  his  age  to  reach  Wilkes-Barre.  In 
September,  1788,  he  and  Justus  Gaylord,  Oliver  Dodge 
Thomas  Lewis,  Isaac  Hancock  and  Gideon  Baldwin  were 
appointed  by  the  Court  Commissioners  with  full  powers  to 
lay  out  all  necessary  roads  in  Springfield  township,  and  thus 
assisted  in  opening  the  first  regular  roads  in  Wyalusing. 

Lieutenant  James  Wells,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was 
another  of  the  early  settlers  here.  In  1771  the  Susquehanna 
company  surveyed  two  townships  on  the  West  Branch, 
and  Mr.  Wells  became  a  proprietor  in  one  of  these — 
Charlestown.  In  1775  Colonel  Plunket,  under  orders  from 
the  Pennsylvania  Government,  with  a  strong  force  of  North- 
umberland militia,  broke  up  the  settlement,  burned  the  build- 
ings, plundered  their  goods,  and  took  the  men  as  prisoners  to 
jail.  The  most  of  them  were,  however,  speedily  released  and 
returned  to  Wyoming,  whence  Mr.  Wells  came  to  Wyalusing, 
and  lived  in  a  house  where  there  is  now  a  grove  of  small  oaks. 


58  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

about  sixty  rods  from  the  bend  in  the  roadj  below  the  Presby- 
terian church,  toward  the  river.  When  danger  from  the 
savages  became  imminent,  he  like  many  others  in  this  remote 
settlement,  returned  to  the  more  densely  settled  parts  of  the 
valley.  He  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  little  army  sacrificed  in 
the  defence  of  Wyoming,  and  one  of  the  party  sent  out  by 
Col.  Zebulon  Butler  to  select  the  ground  on  which  the  patriot 
army  should  form  their  line  of  battle,  fell  in  the  engagement, 
and  his  name  is  written  among  the  "  honored  brave."  He 
was  the  father  of  Reuben,  Guy,  and  Amasa  Wells,  of  whom 
mention  will  be  made  further  on. 

Justus  Gaylord  has  been  spoken  of  before  ;  the  following 
facts,  however,  may  not  be  uninteresting.  He  was  one  of 
forty-four  who  organized  the  township  of  Norfolk,  Connecti- 
cut, December  12,  1748.  In  1773  he  was  appointed  one  of 
the  directors*  of  Plymouth  township,  under  the  articles 
adopted  for  the  government  of  the  settlers  by  the  Susquehan- 
na company,  June  2,  1773 ;  chosen  tything  man  for  the 
townslup,  March  2,  1774,  was  in  the  company  captured  by 
Plunket  in  his  raid  upon  Wyoming  in  1775,  and  lodged  in 
Sunbury  jail.  Soon  after  his  release  he  came  to  AVyalusing, 
and  lived  near  where  the  railroad  now  crosses  the  line  between 
the  Welles  and  Stalford  estates.  He  returned  to  Wyoming 
before  the  Indian  troubles  began. f 

Mr.  Harding,  in  the  letter  before  alluded  to,  gives  in 
addition  to  the  names   above  mentioned,    the   following  from 


♦There  wore  appointed  three  directors  for  each  town  in  whom  were  vested  the  ontiro 
civil  authority.  They  had  "the  direction  of  the  settlement  of  such  town,  and  tho  well 
ordering  and  governin(»  of  the  same,  to  suppress  vice  of  every  kind,  preserve  the  peace  of 
God  and  the  king  thertiiu,  to  whom  each  inhabitant  shall  pay,  such  and  the  same  sub- 
nuHslon  an  in  paid  to  tho  civil  authority  in  the  general  towns  in  this  colony.  They  must 
bo  "able  and  judicious  men,"  &c. 

1 1  have  hero  followed  Minor's  account,  although  it  somewhat  conflicts  with  tho  family 
traditions.  The  names  of  father  and  son  being  alike,  may  in  this  as  In  other  instances, 
where  two  ijeraons  of  the  same  name  were  in  one  family,  have  occasioned  some  confusion, 
but  the  above  is  most  probably  the  correct  acceunt, 


GENERAL    UISTORY.  59 

about  Wyalusing  who  lleJ  to  the  forts  for  protection,  viz  : 
Z.  Marcy,  E.  Sanford,  I.  Thompson,  Phelps  the  Ekler,  N. 
Depew,  anil  R.  Carr.  Of  these  I  have  been  unable  to  learn 
anything  further,  or  that  they  or  their  immediate  decendents 
ever  returned  to  this  neighborhood.  Those  that  returned 
vrith  Butler  were  Anguish,  Kentncr,  Simmons,  Bowmans, 
Phillips,  Stephens,  Smith,  Buck,  Williose,  Wartmans,  (here  is 
a  name  that  cannot  be  deciphered)  Scacords,  Willards,  E. 
L^helps,  Brown,  Depew,  Vanderlip  and  others. 

At  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Wyoming  the  settlement  was 
probably  abandoned  by  all  parties — the  whigs  had  gone  to 
Wyoming  for  protection,  and  the  tories  had  joined  the 
British  Butler's  Rangers.  The  white  people  did  not  return 
before  1781  or  1782.  The  various  predatory  bands  of  Indians 
and  tories  made  it  extremely  dangerous  for  any  whig  to  be 
so  far  from  any  of  the  protected  settlements.  In  fact,  until 
near  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  valley  swarmed 
with  bands  of  hostile  savages,  who  were  continually  commit- 
ting depredations,  murdering  or  carrying  people  away  captive 
in  sight  of  the  forts  at  Wyoming,  burning  buildings,  stealin  g 
horses  and  cattle  from  the  most  thickly  populated  parts  of 
the  valley. 

In  the  autumn  of  1778  Colonel  Hartley  set  out  with  a 
small  force  from  Muncy  and  marched  over  to  Shcshequin, 
where  he  burned  Queen  Esther's  town  and  then  taking  his 
way  down  the  river  encamped  over  night  at  the  old  Indian 
town  in  Wyalusing,  and  as  it  had  recently  afTorde<l  shelter  to 
the  tories  who  acted  as  spies  and  informers  to  the  enemy,  he 
burned  it.*  '  On  the  ridge  a  little  below  the  town,  he  had  a 
slic^ht   skirmish  with   the    Indians,    and     about   three    miles 


•So  says  Sherman  Day,  on  what  auUiority  I  do  not  know— other  accounts  wjU  be 
given. 


60  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

beyond,  on  the  hills  just  above  the  lower  border  of  the  county 
he  had  a  pretty  sharp  encounter  with  them.  In  this  engage- 
ment, the  savages  who  had  been  hovering  over  his  path  all  the 
way  from  Tioga,  and  who  outnumbered  his  little  force  by 
four  or  five  to  one,  made  a  furious  onset.  Being  met  with 
great  skill,  courage  and  coolness,  they  abandoned  the  attack 
and  allowed  him  to  pursue  the  remainder  of  his  journey 
unmolested. 

The   next   year,    1779,    General    Sullivan,  on  his    famous 
expedition  into  the  Indian  country,   arrived  at  Wyalusing  on 
the    5th  of  August,  and  his    army  encamped    here.     At  the 
encampment    of  the  night   before,    on   Vanderlip's  farm,  at 
Black  Walnut,  a  man  was  left  sick,  and  the  next  day  a  party 
sent  back  found  him  dead.     The  same  night  a  sergeant  from 
the  New  Jersey  troops    died  suddenly,  and  both  were  buried 
near  the  old  Kingsley  house.     The  army  remained  here  until 
the  8th.     From  Lieutenant   Colonel  Hubley's  journal  of  the 
campaign  is  the  following  paragraph    referring  to  Wyalusing : 
"  This  valley  was  formerly  called  Old-man's  farm,  occupied  by 
the  Indians  and  white  people  ;  together,  they  had  about  sixty 
houses,  a  considerable    Moravian   meeting  house,  and  sundry 
other  public  buildings ;    but  since  the   commencement  of  the 
present  war  the   whole  has   been    consumed   and   laid  waste, 
partly  by  the  savages  and  partly  by  our   own  people.     The 
land  is  extraordinarily  calculated  chiefly   for  meadows.     The 
grass  at  this   time    is  almost  beyond   description,  high*  and 
thick,  chiefly  blue  grass,  and  the  soil  of  the   land  very  rich. 
The  valley  contains  about  1200  acres  of  land,  bounded  on  one 
side  by  an  almost  inaccessible  mountain,  and  on  the  other  by 
the  river  Susquehanna."  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the 
journal  of  Thomas  Grant,  who   was  also  with  the  expedition  : 


♦Another  account  says  as  Liyb  as  a  man's  head. 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  61 

"  Marched  this  day  nine  and  one-half  miles  to  Wiahusing,  a 
noted  Indian  town  settled  by  Moravian  Indians  who  professed 
Christianity.  *  *  This  town  and  the  land  adjacent  formerly 
belonged  to  an  Indian  chief  by  the  name  of  Joab  Chilaway, 
which  in  this  present  contest  and  before  has  behaved  friendly. 
This  place  is  at  present  laid  waste  partly  by  our  own  people 
and  the  Indians  ;  not  the  appearance  of  a  house  to  be  seen, 
but  the  soyle  exceedingly  fine,  abounding  with  the  finest 
grass  I  ever  saw  in  a  wild  country,  chiefly  blue  grass  and 
clover."  Grant  adds  the  place  of  the  encampment  was  one 
and  a  fourth  miles  above  the  old  Indian  town,  on  the  gravelly 
ridge  on  which  the  Presbyterian  church  now  stands.  In 
ascending  the  hill  above  Wyalusing,  the  advance  guard  fell  in 
with  a  party  of  Indians  lying  in  ambush,  in  which  several 
were  wounded,  but  the  Indians  dispersed  after  the  first  fire. 


CHAPTER  II.— 1780-1786. 


The  valley  of  the  North  Branch  originally  formed  a  part 
of  Northampton  county,  but  subsequently  it  was  set  oflf  to 
Northumberland,  and  in  1780  the  township  of  Wyalusing  was 
erected.  As  then  described,  it  was  bounded  on  the  north  and 
south  by  parallel  lines  running  due  east  and  west,  the  former 
crossing  the  river  at  Standing  Stone,  the  latter  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Meshoppen  Creek,  its  eastern  boundary  being  the  east 
line  of  Susquehanna  county,  and  its  western  limit  the  head 
waters  of  Towanda  Creek.  The  organization  of  the  township 
did  not  take  place   until   some   time   after.     Luzerne  county 


62 


GENERAL   HISTORY. 


limits  of  the  new  county    were,  beginning   at  the   mouth  of 
was  erected  by  Act  of  Assembly,   September  25,  1786.     The 
Nescopeck  Creek,  and  running  along   the   south  bank  thereof 
eastward  to  the  head  of  said  creek  ;  thence  a  due  east  course 
to  the  head  branch  of  Lehigh  Creek  ;    then    along  the  cast 
bank  of  Lehigh    Creek  to    the  head  thereof ;    thence  a  due 
north  course  to  the  northern  boundary   of  the  State,  thence 
along  said  boundary  fifteen  miles  west    of  the   Susquehanna 
river;    thence  by  a    straight  line    to  the  head    of  Towanda 
Creek,  then  along  the  divide  of  the  two  branches  of  the  river 
to  a  point  due  west  from  the   mouth  of  the  Nescopeck  Creek ; 
thence  east   to    the  place  of  beginning.     Wyalusing  was  one 
of  the  eleven  townships  of  which  the  new    county  was  com- 
posed,  its  northern    and  its    southern  boundaries   remaining 
unchanged,  those  on  the  east  and  on  the  west  being  the  limits 
of  the  county.      The  townships  of   the  Susquehanna  company 
were  never  recognized  by    the  Pennsylvania    Government  as 
political  divisions,    but  township  and    county    lines  were  run 
without  any    regard  to    them  whatever.     Under  the  compro- 
mise   acts    by    which    disputed    titles    of  land    were  settled, 
seventeen  of  the  company's    towns  lying  in  Luzerne  county, 
were  known  as  "  certified  townships,"  as   describing  the  terri- 
tory where  those  acts  applied,    and  determining   the   lines  of 
certain  surveys,  otliorwlse  they  were  in  no  way  recognized  by 
the  authority  of  the  State. 

The  country  having  become  in  a  measure  quieted  from  the 
efFects  of  tlie  late  war,  and  no  further  danger  being  appre- 
hended from  the  incursions  of  the  Indians,  the  old  settlers 
began  to  come  back  and  new  ones  to  fiock  in.  Among  the 
first  of  these  was  Thomas  Brown,  who  came  up  and  occupied 
a  clearing  on  Sugar  Run  Creek,  nearly  a  half  a  mile  from  the 
river.     The    Browns  are  mentioned  among    the  earliest  New 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  63 

England  families.  Thomas  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  but 
removed  to  Quaker  Hill,  Duchess  county,  N.Y.,  where  his 
son  Daniel  was  born,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made  before. 
In  1776  the  family  came  into  the  Wyoming  valley,  and 
settled  in  Pittston.  Here  they  tuilt  a  stockade  on  their  own 
land,  which  was  called  Brown's  Fort.  About  the  time  of  the 
descent  of  the  Indians  to  the  valley,  Mrs.  Brown  received  an 
intimation  of  the  danger  from  a  friendly  squaw,  and  with  her 
smaller  children  retired  to  the  mountains;  the  older  ones 
remained  for  the  defence  of  the  place.  In  that  far-famed 
battle,  Thomas  a  brother,  and  John  a  half  brother  of  Daniel, 
(who  then  but  a  mere  lad,  was  in  the  Forty  Fort)  were  slain. 
.Thomas  in  the  retreat  had  nearly  crossed  the  river,  when 
overtaken  by  the  enemy,  he  was  forced  to  return,  and  on 
reaching  the  shore,  was  instantly  speared  and  tomahawked. 

In  1780  they  came  up  the  river  in  a  canoe  and  brought  one 
cow  with  them.  They  remained  on  the  Sugar  Run  until 
about  1787-8  when  Joseph  Ingham  purchased  their  possession 
and  the  family  moved  into  Browntown.  He  was  the  father 
of  a  large  family,  many  of  whom  were  sons  who  by  marriage 
became  connected  with  several  of  the  old  families  here.  Thomas 
Brown  died  in  1791  at  a  good  old  age,  and  was  among  the  first 
buried  in  the  beautiful  cemetery  at  Wyalusing,  where  the 
winds  waft  through  the  old  pines  that  overshadow  those  hal- 
lowed grounds,  unceasing  requiems  for  the  dead.  The  first 
person  buried  there  was  a  raftman  named  George  March,  who 
was  drowned  in  the  Susquehanna,  in  the  spring  of  1790. 
The  stone  of  Mr.  Brown  bears  the  oldest  date  of  any  in  the 
cemetery. 

The  same  year  that  Mr.  Brown  died,  1791,  Mr.  Richard 
Vaughan  was  buried  in  Wyalusing.  He  was  born  in  1754,  and 
with  two  brothers  came  from  New  York  State    and  settled  on 


64  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

the  Lackawanna.  He  served  in  the  American  army  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  being  Quartermaster  a  part  of  the 
time.  In  1785-6  he  came  to  Laceyville  and  purchased  a 
tract  of  400  acres  of  land,  what  was  afterward  known  as  the 
Avery  place.  The  family  came  to  Rummerfield  the  year 
after  his  death.  All  of  them  however  left  this  region,  except 
his  son  Elias,  who  was  commissioned  postmaster  in  1811,  and 
retained  the  office  for  a  number  of  years.  Afterward  he 
removed  to  Vaughan  Hill,  where  his  sons  now  reside.  He 
married  Sarah  Abbott,  March  6,  1807,  and  died  November 
1865  in  the  83d  year  of  his  age.  He  was  prudent  and  indus- 
trious in  business,  kind  and  hospitable  as  a  neighbor,  and 
maintained  an  unblemished  character  for  integrity  and, 
uprightness. 

The  old  burying  ground  has  received  many  accessions  since 
the  time  above  mentioned,  and  while  we  naturally  pause  at 
the  mound  beneath  which  lie  the  ashes  of  those  whom  we 
have  known  and  loved  in  their  lives,  yet  who  does  not  like  to 
linger  around  the  ruder  memorials  of  the  fathers,  decipher  the 
uncouth  characters,  now  moss-covered  and  nearly  obliterated, 
in  which  the  hand  of  affection  the  best  way  it  could,  sought  to 
perpetuate  the  names  of  the  toil  -  worn  veterans,  in  our 
country's  early  history. 

Very  soon  after  the  Browns  came  up  the  river,  Mr.  Kings- 
ley  returned  to  his  old  home  and  Amos  Ackley,  Richard  Ben- 
nett and  Judah  Benjamin  made  possessions  north  of  the 
creek,  (about  1782),*  Previous  to  this  the  settlers  had  all 
clustered  around  the  cultivated  lands  of  the  Moravians,  most 
of  the  houses  having  been  built  along  a  path,  which  through 
Browntown  followed  pretty  nearly  the   course  of  the   canal, 

*They  must  have  been  hero  previous  to  1783,  as   Major  Gaylord   who  bought  tliHr  pns- 
Aeatiious,  bold  uudor  Connecticut  title. 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  05 

ran  through  the  old  Indian  town,  along  the  ridge  back  of  the 
house  of  John  Stalford,  and  thence  along  the  west  slope  of 
the  ridge,  to  near  the  creek.  As  the  settlers  came  in  after 
the  war,  they  began  to  take  up  land  along  thp  creek,  so  that  in 
1795  we  find  families  living  four  and  five  miles  above  the 
forks  of  the  Wyalusing,  Benjamin  built  a  house  near  the  one 
recently  occupied  by  G.  W.  Jackson.  lie  moved  from  here 
into  Pike  township.  Akely  lived  fifty  or  sixty  rods  farther  up 
the  creek,  just  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  beside  the  old  mill- 
race.  He  removed  to  Durell  Creek,  where  many  of  his 
decendents  now  live.  Bennett's  house  was  a  few  rods  in 
the  rear  of  Bascom  Taylor's  lower  barn.  Pie  built  a  little 
mill  on  a  small  stream,  which  empties  into  the  Wyalusing 
near  the  road  that  crosses  the  creek  to  Stalford's  saw- 
mill. This  mill  must  have  been  a  small  affair,  as  the  tradi- 
tion of  it  has  been  remembered  by  only  one  or  two  persons 
whom  I  have  talked  with.  When  it  was  built  cannot  now  be 
known  with  certainty.  In  a  survey  of  roads  made  in  1790, 
it  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  points  to  which  the  survey  was 
referred.  It  is  said  the  mill  would  grind  three  bushels  of 
samp  meal  in  a  day.  This  was  doubtless  the  first  mill  in  the 
township  if  not  in  the  county.  Mr.  Bennett  afterward  moved 
up  the  river  to  a  point  nearly  opposite  William  Storrs,  called 
Bennett's  Eddy. 

Isaac  Hancock  returned  to  Wyalusing  about  1785.  He 
had  been  here  for  a  time  previous  to  the  Revolution,  as  it  was 
here  that  his  third  daughter,  Polly  who  was  married  to  Eze- 
kiel  Brown,  was  born,  September  10, 1777.  This  is  the  second 
white  child  born  in  Wyalusing  of  which  there  is  any  record 
— a  son  of  Amos  York,  who  died  in  infancy,  being  the  first. 
Mr.  Hancock  was  born  at  Valley  Forge,  Montgomery  county, 
in  1740.  During  the  troubles  here  he  retired  to  the  more 
thickly  settled  part  of  the  country.     After  he  came  here  the 


G6  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

second  time,  ho  built  a  house  on  the  point  of  the  ridge,  a  few 
rods  west  of  the  Sugar  Run  Ferry  road,  which  was  known  as 
Hancock's  Tavern,  and  though  not  very  commodious  in  its 
accommodations,  nor  stylish  in  the  character  of  its  entertain- 
ments ;  yet  its  log  walls  and  roof  of  unshaved  shingles  afford- 
ed greatful  shelter  to  many  a  weary  adventurer,  and  its  stores 
of  New  England  rum  and  corn  whisky  were  the  occasion  of 
many  a  round  of  boisterous  mirth,  and  perhaps  sometimes  of 
more  unpleasant  encounters.  Mr.  Hancock  was  the  first 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  the  township,  and  held  the  office  until 
about  1802,  at  which  time  he  moved  farther  up  the  Wyalu- 
smg,  Avhere  he  died  March  2,  1820.  His  daughter,  Nancy 
Brink,  is  still  living  at  New  Milford,  Susquehanna  county, 
and  though  nearly  eighty-six  years  of  age,  distinctly  remem- 
bers many  of  the  events  of  that  early  day. 

About  the  same  time  the  York  family  returned  to  their  old 
home.  Their  house  though  standing,  was  considerably  dilap- 
a dated,  their  fences  were  decayed  and  their  clearings  covered 
with  bushes.  During  their  eight  years  absence,  things  had 
remained  very  nearly  as  they  left  them,  except  what  had 
resulted  from  the  want  of  care  and  labor,  even  the  stick  of 
wood  which  Mrs.  York's  son  was  chopping  when  he  saw  the 
Indians  coming  with  his  father,  lay  upon  the  ground  just  as 
he  left  it.  A  less  spirited  and  earnest  woman  under  such 
circumstances  and  surrounded  by  such  painful  associations, 
would  have  given  up  all  hope  and  sat  down  in  despair.  But 
her  son,  who  had  now  become  a  young  man,  meeting  his 
responsibilities  with  manly  courage,  and  aided  by  his  mother's 
counsel,  with  great  energy  set  about  repairing  the  injury  their 
farm  had  sustained  during  their  absence,  and  his  labors  were 
attended  with  so  much  success  that  he  was  able  in  a,  short 
time  to  place  the  family  beyond  the  reach  of  want, 


GENERAL    HISTORY.  67 

Justus  Gaylord,  Jr.,  came  to  Wyalusing  in  company  with 
the  Yorks,  and  occupied  the  hind  purchased  by  his  father  or 
himself  before  the  war,  where  he  remained  for  a  year  or  two, 
when  he  purchased  the  possessions  of  Benjamin,  Akely,  and 
Bennett  and  moved  into  the  Benjamin  house,  where  he  lived 
for  several  years.  While  living  here,  there  came  along  a 
stranger  one  day,  who  fed  his  horse  near  Mr.  Gaylord's  house. 
After  a  M'hile  a  ucav  and  showy  flower  bloomed  upon  the  spot, 
which  the  family  allowed  to  remain  for  its  novelty,  but  in  a 
few  years,  from  this  single  seed,  the  ox-eye  daisy  had  spread 
over  every  man's  farm  in  the  country.  Mr.  Gaylord  was  one 
of  the  most  prominent  men  in  this  little  community.  He  was 
w'atchful  for  its  interests  and  active  in  promoting  its  prosper- 
ity, and  Avas  frequently  honored  by  his  neighbors  with  oifices 
of  trust  if  not  of  profit.  Intelligent,  of  good  judgment 
and  of  unswerving  integrity,  his  counsel  was  sought  in  every 
matter  of  difficulty,  and  his  aid  solicited  for  every  enterprise. 
As  illustrating  the  respect  in  which  he  was  held,  the  following 
from  Miner's  History  may  not  be  unappropriato  : 

"  In  1806  Justus  Gaylord,  Jr.,  was  on  the  ticket  for  Assem- 
bly. Luzerne  then  embraced  AVyoming,  Susquehanna  and 
Bradford,  except  the  Tioga  district  set  off  to  Lycoming.* 
The  vote  stood — Justus  Gaylord,  Jr.,  ooo  ;  Justus  Gaylord, 
38 ;  total,  371  ;  Moses  Coolbaugh,  364,  so  that  if  the  votes 
given  without  the  Jr.  were  added  to  his  list,  (his  father  being 
a  very  old  man  and  not  a  candidate,)  he  was  chosen.  But 
the  place  had  not  charm  enough  to  induce  the  old  soldier  to 
contest  the  election,  and  Mr.  Coolbaugh  took  the  seat.  The 
incident  is  mentioned  to   shjw  the    respect    in    which  he  was 


*This  incUidetl  the  northern  part  of  Bradford  county  and  was  done  to  keep  John  Frank- 
lin out  01  the  Leyisiature,  by  depriving'  liim  of  the  vote  of  his  friends  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  valley.  The  plan  did  not  sue  ced.  for  even  LycoininK  sent  the  old  veteran  to  rep- 
resent her,  and  the  very  next  year  after  the  dismomberuieiit  oi  Luzerne  had  been  effected, 
those  who  bad  brought  it  about,  baa  the  mortitication  to  tind  Franklin  in  his  old  seat. 


68  GENERAL    HISTORY. 

held,  as  well  as  to  show  that  less  than  400  votes  chose  a 
member  of  Assembly."  He  was  a  libei-al  patron  of  education, 
the  first  school  in  Wyalusiiig  being  taught  in  his  house,  the 
friend  of  peace  and  good  order,  a  lover  of  hospitality,  whose 
house  was  ever  open  to  the  traveler  and  his  table  spread  for 
the  hungry.  He  was  on  the  first  traverse  jury  that  ever  sat 
in  Luzerne  county,  March  1788.  Before  this  no  trials  were 
had  on  account  of  the  troubles  growing  out  of  land  titles  and 
the  arrest  of  John  Franklin.  He  and  Joseph  Elliott  were  on 
the  Grand  Jury  in  Septcmberof  the  same  year. 

Joseph  Elliott  was  also  one  of  the  settlers  of  1785.  Born 
in  Stonington,  Conn.,  October  10,  1755,  he,  with  his  father's 
family,  removed  first  to  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  and  then  to 
Pittston,  Pa.,  in  1776.  He  was  in  the  company  of  eighty 
men,  who,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Dorance,  ascended  the 
river  as  far  as  Sheshequin  in  1777.  Query :  Was  this  the 
party  who  captured  the  settlers  under  Pennsylvania  title,  at 
AVyalusing,  referred  to  in  the  letter  of  Patterson  ?  All  the 
circumstances  that  we  know,  point  to  an  affirmative  answer.  It 
was  a  few  months  after  the  capture  of  Mr.  York,  who  was 
taken  oft"  at  the  connivance  of  the  Pennsylvanians  here  ;  we 
know  that  the  conduct  of  these  people  had  been  such  as  to 
awaken  grave  suspicions  in  the  minds  of  the  Whigs  both  at 
Wyalusing  and  Wyoming — and  then,  this  is  the  only  detatch- 
mcnt  of  sufficient  force,  to  capture  so  many,  sent  up  here  pre- 
vious to  the  battle.  Bo  the  object  what  it  may,  this  was  El- 
liott's first  active  military  service.  At  the  tattle  of  Wyoming 
he  was  a  member  of  the  company  under  Capt.  James  Bidiack, 
Jr.,  which  consisted  of  thirty-eight  men,  and  occupied  the 
riglit  in  the  line  of  battle.  The  enemy  having  turned  the  left 
wing,  poured  their  overwhelming  force  upon  the  right,  which 
was  nearly  surrounded  and  many  were  captured,  among  whom 
was  Elliott.       Stripped  and  led  to  the  "  Bloody  Rock,"  with 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  69 

other  captives,  they  were  arrayed  in  a  circle,  and  the  -work  of 
butchery  began.  Six  or  seven  having  been  murdered,  one 
Thomas  Fuller,  a  young  man,  shook  off  his  guards  and  sprang 
to  escape,  but  was  almost  instantly  overtaken  and  tomahawk- 
ed. The  attention  of  the  Indians  being  diverted  to  the  strug- 
gle,  Elliott  and  Hammond,  at  the  same  instant,  broke  loose 
from  their  captors  and  fled,  Hammond  to  the  mountains,  and 
Elliott  to  the  river.  He  was  pursued  by  several  of  the  sava- 
ges, but  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  When  nearly  across 
the  river  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  shoulder.  Secreting  him- 
self until  dark,  he  made  his  way  to  Wilkes-Barre  Fort,  where 
Dr.  Smith  dressed  his  wound.  The  next  morning  he  was 
placed  in  a  canoe,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  a  boy,  who 
took  him  to  Catawissa.  After  partial  recovery  at  this  place, 
he  passed  on  foot  to  the  Delaware,  and  thence  to  the  Never- 
sink  bottoms. 

No  sooner  had  he  recovered  from  his  wound,  than  he  again 
entered  the  service.  On  Sullivan's  advance  into  the  Indian 
country,  a  line  of  expresses  was  established  to  connect  with 
Wyoming.  John  Carey  and  Joseph  Elliott  were  selected  for 
that  duty.  In  this  arduous  undertaking,  he  was  exposed  to 
great  hardships — drenched  with  rain,  out  by  night  and  by  day, 
sleeping  in  the  woods  when  sleep  he  could,  sometimes  hungry 
and  often  cold,  after  eighty  days'  service  he  was  taken  sick 
and  barely  recovered. 

April  7,  1782,  a  party  of  Indians  rushed  into  the  house  of 
Lieut.  Roswell  Franklin,  in  Hanover  settlement,  captured  his 
wife  and  four  remaining  children,  one  an  infant,  (two  sons  had 
been  captured  the  September  previous,)  burned  his  buildings, 
and  started  up  the  river.  Several  parties  set  off  in  instant 
pursuit.  One  of  these  consisting  of  eight  persons,  were  led 
on  by  Thomas  Baldwin,  Joseph  Elliott  Doing  second  in  com- 
mand.    The  names  of  the  others  were  John  Swift,  Oliver  Ben- 


70  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

nett,  Watson  Baldwin, Cook, Dudley ;  tlie  name  of 

the  other  I  cannot  learn.  On  reaching  the  Wyalusing  they 
became  satisfied  that  they  had  outstripped  the  savages,  but 
went  on  to  gain  a  more  favorable  position,  which  was  a  narrow 
defile,  on  the  Frenchtown  hill,  in  Wyalusing  township,  between 
the  former  residence  of  Hon.  J.  F.  Chamberlain  and  the  river. 
Here  forming  a  miniature  line  of  battle,  and  uncertain  of  the 
strength  of  their  foe,  they  awaited  his  approach.  Swift  had 
gone  out  in  pursuit  of  game  for  their  breakfast.  About  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  an  Indian  was  seen  stealthly  advanc- 
ing along  the  path,  when  at  a  signal,  twelve  more  armed  to 
the  teeth  advanced,  having  with  them  Mrs.  Franklin  and  her 
children.     The  parties  thus  stood  thirteen  against  seven. 

Dudley,  who  first  discovered  the  enemy,  had  the  first  fire, 
and  the  foremost  savage  fell.  The  mother  and  her  children 
were  forced  to  lie  down  behind  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  and 
were  threatened  with  instant  death  if  tjiey  attempted  to  escape. 
Then  commenced  the  conflict,  a  fiercer  than  which,  for  the 
numbers  engaged,  lias  not  its  parallel  in  the  annals  of  modern 
warfare.  The  yells  of  the  savages,  the  sliouts  of  the  whites, 
the  rattle  of  musketry  made  hideous  music  in  that  wild  forest. 
Dudley  had  been  wounded  in  the  hand  in  the  act  of  reload- 
ing his  piece,  but  remained  at  his  post.  After  firing  for  some 
time,  the  Indians  attempted  to  break  tlirough  the  line  which 
our  men  formed,  but  were  repulsed,  two  more  of  their  number 
having  been  killed  and  one  wounded,  wliereupon  the  victors 
raised  such  a  shout  that  Mrs.  Franklin  could  not  refrain  from 
raising  lier  head,  when  tlic  wounded  savage  shot  her  dead. 
Elliott  burning  with  indignation  at  the  brutal  act,  determined 
to  avenge  her  death.     TakiuG;  the  ran";c  of   a   larc-e   tree  in 

•~J  O  O  O 

front  of  him  at  the  foot  of  Avhich  was  the  prostrate  trunk  of 
another,  he  secured  a  favorable  position,  and  the  Indian  soon 
raising   his  head  above    his  covert,    was  shot   in   the  throat. 


GENERAL    HISTORY.  71 

Swift  came  up  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  was 
admonished  by  Dudley  to  seek  the  shelter  of  a  tree,  to  which 
he  replied  with  an  oath,  that  having  chased  the  rascals  for 
seventy  miles  he  now  wanted  to  get  sight  of  them.  His  wish 
was  soon  gratified,  for  an  Indian  peered  out  from  behind  a 
tree  to  sec  what  Swift  was  doing,  when  the  intrepid  fellow 
shot  the  savage  through  the  head,  and  instead  of  stopping  to 
reload,  seized  his  tomahawk,  ran  up  to  the  fallen  Indian,  rent 
oft'  his  scalp,  and  with  a  shout  called  to  his  companions  to 
come  on. 

Our  men  were  already  so  near  where  Mrs,  Franklin  lay, 
that  the  children  knew  their  voices,  and  the  two  girls  and  boy 
crept  through  the  bushes  to  where  Mr.  Elliott  was,  and  were 
rescued.  The  Indians  alarmed  at  the  reckless  manner  of 
Swift,  the  leader  of  the  band  caught  up  the  infant  and  placing 
it  upon  his  shoulder,  fled.  The  fate  of  the  little  one  was 
never  known. 

This  engagement  is  the  only  one  of  any  importance,  which 
in  modern  times,  occurred  within  the  limits  of  the  township, 
for  this  reason  the  account  has  been  given  Avith  considerable 
minuteness.  It  is  true  the  fate  of  an  empire  did  not  hang  on 
the  result  of  the  combat,  but  the  lives  of  the  family  of  a  com- 
panion in  arms  was  the  prize  of  the  contest,  and  nobly  was  it 
won.  For  five  hours  the  conflict  raged,  during  which  the 
rescuers  exhibited  the  most  daring  valor,  unflinching  courage, 
consumate  skill  and  untiring  patience.  The  casualties  were 
Dudley  wounded  in  the  hand  and  Baldwin  in  tlie  arm,  five  of 
the  Indians  killed  and  one  wounded.  Mrs.  Franklin  was 
hurried  as  decently  as  circumstances  would  permit,  when  the 
party  made  a  raft  and  hastened  home  with  their  prize. 

When  Mr.  Elliott  came  to  Wyalusing,  he  brought  his  aged 
parents  with  him,  whom  he  cared  for  with  unremitting  kindness 


72  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

until  their  death.  About  1T92  he  moved  to  Merryall  where 
he  died  March  29,  1849.  He  was  said  to  have  been  the  last 
survivor  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Wyoming.  Mr.  Elliott  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Brown ;  she  having  died,  he  married  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Lewis,  October  18,  1787.  He  is  remembered  as  a  kind 
hearted  and  benevolent  neighbor,  one  whose  family  affections 
were  strong  and  of  the  tenderest  kind.  Mr.  Miner  says  of 
him:  "His  habits  have  been  simple,  his  life  virtuous,  his 
conduct  in  war  as  meritorious  as  fidelity  and  bravery  could 
render  it."  His  services  were  not  forgotten  by  the  Republic, 
which  gave  him  a  pension  of  $65  per  year  in  his  old  age. 

These  early  settlers  were  are  all  poor.  AVith  perhaps  one 
or  two  exceptions,  they  were  in  the  Wyoming  valley  during 
the  Revolutionary  war  and  had  been  stripped  of  everything, 
and  had  suffered  everything  but  death.  Timothy  Pickering, 
who  is  well  known  to  every  reader  of  our  early  history,  passed 
up  the  Susquehanna  in  1784.  In  his  account  of  this  trip  he 
says  "  We  were  under  the  necessity  of  passing  through  the 
Wyoming  settlements  from  Nescopeck  to  Tioga.  The  inhabi- 
tants from  the  causes  before  mentioned,  (the  Indian  depreda- 
tions) were  universally  poor,  and  their  stock  of  cattle  small 
and  inadequate  to  the  common  purposes  of  husbandry. 
From  Nescopeck  to  Tioga,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles,  we  tasted  bread  but  once."  For  several  years, 
corn  coarsly  broken  in  their  samp  mortars,  and  venison  formed 
almost  exclusively  their  only  articles  of  diet.  We,  accustomed 
to  the  abundance  and  luxuries  of  our  ordinary  living,  can 
hardly  realize  the  picture  which  these  few  lines  present,  or 
the  changes  which  in  less  than  a  century  have  been  produced. 

It  Avill  be  remembered  that  the  first  settlements  were  on 
the  river   flats  and   therefore  were  exposed   to  the   freshets 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  73 

which  frequently  happen.  In  the  ice  flood  of  1784  these  flats 
were  covered  with  water,  but  comparatively  little  damage  was 
done  ;  but  in  October,  178/  the  river  rose  rapidly  to  a  hight 
greater  than  ever  was  known  before,  and  occasioned  great 
loss.  The  hay  was  gathered  and  much  of  it  was  in  stacks, 
the  corn  was  in  the  shock,  the  cattle  were  feedinrr  in  the 
meadows,  and  the  flood  swept  all  before  it.  The  fruit  of  the 
summer's  toil  the  hope  of  the  winter's  sustenance  was  borne 
off"  in  triumph  by  the  turbulent  waters,  and  in  consequence  no 
little  suS'ering  ensued.  Those  who  escaped  however,  shared 
their  store  with  true  fraternal  generosity  with  others  less  for- 
tunate, and  the  next  season  these  hardy  pioneers  commenced 
their  labors  with  renewed  courage.  This  has  been  known  as 
the  Pumpkin  Freshet  from  the  great  quantities  that  floated 
down  the  river. 


CHAPTER  III. 


From    the  Organization    of   Luzerne  County   to    the 
Assessment  in  the  Township.     1787-1795. 

The  controversies  which  had  agitated  Pennsylvania  and 
Connecticut  prior  to  the  revolution,  respecting  the  jurisdiction 
and  right  of  soil  to  the  Susquehanna  purchase,  had,  in  a  great 
measure,  been  held  in  abeyance  from  the  battle  of  Wyoming 
until  the  Trenton  decree,  which  confirmed  to  Pennsylvania 
jurisdiction  over  the  disputed  territory.  While  all  parties 
professed  a  willingness  to  submit  to  this  decision,  yet  the 
question  of  title  to  lands  in  actual  occupancy  before  this 
decree,  was  an  open  one.     For  the  next  three  years  the  con- 


(4  GENERAL    HISTORY. 

duct  of  Pennsylvania  towards  the  Connecticut  settlers  was  so 
vacillating  as  to  excite  the  disgust  of  all  right  minded  men, 
both  in  and  out  of  the  Common^.ealth.  Laws  passed  one 
session  of  the  Legislature  for  quieting  the  settlement,  were 
repealed  the  next,  so  that  the  distressed  people  of  the  whole 
Susquehanna  valley  lost  all  confidence  in  the  integrity  of  the 
State,  whose  laws  they  professed  to  be  willing  to  obey.  And 
then  the  officers  to  whom  the  execution  of  these  laws  were 
committed,  were  cruel  and  vindictive  in  the  exercise  of  their 
authority.  Men  who  had  perilled  their  lives  in  the  defence  of 
the  country  during  the  war,  were,  by  them,  arrested  as  in- 
truders and  trespassers,  and  sent  to  jail.  Neither  age,  char- 
acter, honorable  service,  sex  nor  condition  was  spared.  To 
such  an  extent  were  these  measures  carried,  that  people  in  all 
parts  of  the  State  began  to  remonstrate  with  the  authorities; 
the  Legislature  was  rebuked  by  the  censors,  and  some  of  their 
appointees  in  Wyoming  were  indicted  by  the  grand  jury  of 
Northumberland.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  energies  of  the 
Susquehanna  company,  which  had  been  parallized  by  the 
decision  at  Trenton,  were  now  aroused,  and  some  of  the 
leading  men  of  Now  England,  under  the  leadership  of  Col. 
John  Franklin,  were  determined,  as  a  last  resort,  to  set  up  an 
independent  State  government  on  the  disputed  territory.  To 
this  end  half  shares  in  the  townships,  that  is,  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  were  offered  gratis,  to  any  who  would 
occupy  them  and  defend  the  company's  rights.  A  multitude 
of  restless,  and  in  many  instances,  reckless  spirits  seized  upon 
the  offer,  and  in  a  few  months  from  the  early  part  of  1786  the 
tide  of  emigration  to  the  purchase  was  greater  than  it  had  been 
before.  These  were,  for  the  most  part,  a  very  different  class 
of  men  from  the  original  settlers.  Many  of  them  had  been 
soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  war,were  men  without  families,and 
not  unfrequently,  without  character  or  morals,  and  were  known 


CJFNERAT,    TIISTOliV.  ,0 

as  w'hl  Ynnki'ea  or  hilf  shire  men.  To  these  lanrls  were 
assigned  all  along  the  river  townships  ;  and  consequently,  at 
the  time  at  which  our  chapter  opens,  there  was  an  almost  con- 
stant ptream  of  new  comers  passing  through  Wyalusing  for  the 
purpose  of  locating  their  shares.  The  most  of  these  proved 
to  be  mere  temporary  residents,  who  soon  left  the  counti'y,  and 
consequently  their  names  and  history,  so  far  as  connected  with 
this  township,  lait^een  foi-gotten.  But  for  all  this,  they  played 
an  important  part  in  the  events  then  transpiring,  and  in  the 
subsequent  history  of  the  whole  valley.  These  operations  and 
purposes  of  the  Susquehanna  company  were  not  unobserved 
by  the  people  of  Pennsylvania.  The  Legislature  became 
alarmed  at  the  consequences  of  its  own  rashness.  Interested 
landholders,  who  had  manipulated  the  legislation  of  the  State, 
were  made  to  stand  aside  for  wiser  heads  and  ^more  peacable 
counsels.  Timothy  Pickering,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
a  distinguished  laAvyer,  was  requested  to  visit  Wyoming  and 
examine  into  its  condition,  and  discover  the  sentiments  of  the 
more  moderate  and  influential  class  of  its  citizens.  The  result 
was,  that  the  county  of  Luzerne,  embracing  the  whole 
territory  occupied  by  the  Connecticut  people,  was  established 
and  organized  on  the  2Tth  of  May  1787,  by  the  appointment 
of  James  Nesbitt,  Obadiah  Gore,  Nathan  Kingsley,  Benjamin 
Carpenter,  Matthias  Hollenback  and  William  Hooker  Smith, 
justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  Pickering,  Prothon- 
otary,  Register,  Recorder  and  Clerk  of  the  Court,  as  provided 
under  the  old  Constitution.  By  this  act,  and  another  which 
was  subsequently  passed  for  quieting  the  settlers  in  their  pos- 
sessions, the  plans  of  Franklin  and  his  party  were  thwarted, 
and  the  endless  troubles  which  must  have  grown  out  of  their 
proposed  project  for  a  new  State,  were  happily  obviated. 
During  the  period  embraced  in  this  chapter  there  was  also 


76  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

much  shifting  of  property ;  and  speculation  in  land,  was,  to  a 
great  extent,  the  order  of  the  day.  This  grew  out  of  the  state 
of  society  here  at  that  time.  Persons  had  obtained  the  Con- 
necticut title  for  their  lands,  made  some  improvment  on  them, 
and  then  finding  that  their  titles  were  insecure,  and  becoming 
discouraged  by  the  obstacles  which  must  be  overcome,  and 
many  being  without  families,  they  either  abandoned  their  pos- 
sessions or  sold  them  for  what  they  could,  .get  and  removed 
beyond  the  contested  territory.  Others  finding  tracts  better 
suited  to  their  wants,  sold  out  their  first  settlement  and  took 
title  elsewhere.  Some  of  these  changes  will  be  noted  in  their 
proper  place.  Notwithstanding  these  civil  commotions,  tran- 
sient settlers  and  frequent  removals,  the  improvement  of  the 
country  and  the  developement  of  its  resources  were  more  rapid 
than  ever  before.  At  first  the  people  all  clustered  about  the 
old  Indian  town,  and  occupied  scarcely  any  ground  beyond 
the  plantations  annexed  to  it;  and  at  the  close  of  the  last  chapter 
we  find  every  house  either  on  those  grounds  or  in  sight  of  them. 
There  had  been  but  little,  if  any,  encroachment  made  upon  the 
wilderness.  Each  settler  occupied  his  small  farm,  as  large 
perhaps  as  he  then  had  the  means  to  cultivate,  but  not  large 
enough  to  meet  the  prospective  wants  of  his  family.  Accord- 
ingly a  more  expansive  policy  began  to  be  adopted ;  larger 
faims  were  purchased,  and  the  new  settlers  located  themselves 
at  favorable  points  farther  up  the  river  and  along  the  Wyalus- 
ing  creek.  Also  the  great  pumpkin  flood,  the  destruction 
which  attended  it,  and  the  suffering  which  followed  it,  made 
the  people  fearful  of  depending  upon  the  river  flats  exclusively 
for  their  supplies.  Accordingly  new  openings  began  to  be 
made  in  the  forests,  new  houses  to  be  built,  and  new  soil  to  be 
put  under  cultivation.  Owing  to  the  great  scarcity  and  infe- 
rior character  of  their  agricultural  implements,  the  small 
number  of  laborers  and  the  iwability  of  most  of  the  settlers  to 


GENERAL   IIISTORV.  77 

hire  them,  the  clearing  and  cultivation  was  very  different  from 
that  ^Yhich  now  prevails.  The  great  object  of  the  new  comer 
was  to  provide  for  the  immediate  necessities  of  his  family.  As 
many  trees  were  felled  as  possible,  others  were  barked,  and  as 
soon  as  the  leaves  were  dry  a  fire  was  kindled  in  the  thick 
boughs  of  the  fallen  trees,  which  so  completely  consumed  the 
underbrush  and  the  smaller  limbs  of  the  girdled  trees,  and  left 
the  soil  so  light  that-  the  ground  was  ready  for  planting  or 
sowing  without  any  further  preparation  than  removing  the 
partially  consumed  trunks  of  the  fallen  trees.  To  do  this  work 
the  settler  not  unfrequently  invited  the  assistance  of  his 
neighbors,  who,  with  their  oxen  soon  removed  the  logs  and 
placed  his  fjillow  in  the  ordinai-y  state  of  cultivation.  At  these 
"logging  bees  "  the  hard  labor  was  often  interspersed  with  the 
telling  of  stories,  running,  jumping,  wrestling,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  rougher  sports  among  the  younger  ones,  at  which,  stimu- 
lated by  the  ordinary  emulation  amongst  young  men,  and  by 
sundry  draughts  from  the  never  missing  demijohn,  they  put 
forth  their  best  efforts  in  these  athletic  sports.  The  oUl  men 
relate  with  great  glee,  many  amusing  incidents  which  attended 
these  neighborly  gatherings  in  the  new  settlement. 

Among  the  permanent  settlers  of  this  year  (1787),  Wc'.s 
Thomas  Lewis.  He  was  from  New  London,  Connecticut, 
where  he  was  born,  April  11,  1745,  the  eldest  of  four  children. 
May  20,  1768,  he  ra-arried  Mary  Turrel,  of  whom  mention  was 
made  in  the  historical  discourse.  He  served  for  some  time  as 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  was  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Ticonderoga,  and  was  in  the  army  that  invaded 
Canada;  but  his  term  of  enlistment  having  expired  before 
reaching  Quebec,  he,  with  others  returned  home.  In  May 
1787  he  came  to  Wyalusing  and  lived  near  the  place  occupied 
by  Lieutenant  Wells  previous  to  the  Revolution.      In  June  of 


78  CEXEUAI,    MISTnllV. 

the  same  year,  his  (laufrhrer  wa-  mirried  t^  Amas.-j  Weils,  .uid 
in  the  August  following,  Justus,  the  only  survivor  of  his 
cliiMren,  vras  born.  The  next  yeir,  1788,  he  moved  his  family 
four  miles  up  the  Wyalusing  on  a  tract  purchased  of  Warum 
Kingsley,  and  named  his  settlement  Merryall.  in  memory  of 
his  old  home  in  Connecticut ;  where  he  died  in  February  1810. 
Mr.  Lewis  may  justly  be  called  the  pioneer  on  the  Wyalusing, 
as  he  was  the  first  to  bring  his  family  and  make  himself  a 
home  so  far  in  the  wilderness.  His  life,  though  possessing  but 
few  incidents  differing  from  man}''  others,  was  spent  in  the  hard 
toil  and  peaceful  pursuits  of  agriculture,  and  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  quiet  and  peace  of  his  own  family,  to  whom  he  left  a 
name  of  unblemished  integrity  and  uprightness. 

Reuben,  Amasa  and  Guy,  sons  of  Lieutenant  James  Wells, 
came  to  Wyalusing  in  the  same  boat  which  brought  up  the 
Lewis  family,  and  occupied  the  place  held  by  their  father 
previous  to  the  Revolution.  Reuben,  of  whom  mention  has 
been  made  in  another  place,  moved  up  the  Wyalusing  next 
below  Mr.  Lewis,  whence  he  removed  to  Bridewater,  Susque- 
hanna County,  where  he  died  at  a  very  advanced  age.  Amasa 
moved  on  the  place  afteward  owned  by  Elijah  Camp,  where  he 
lived  until  1817,  when  he  removed  near  LeRaysville,  Avhere  he 
died  in  1836,  at  the  age  of  71  years.  He  was  a  man  held  in 
high  esteem  for  his  many  virtues  and  christian  character. 
Under  the  old  militia  law  he  was  made  a  Major  and  performed 
his  duties  acceptably. 

Guy  Wells  was  born  in  New  London,  Connecticut,  the  old 
home  of  the  Wells  family,  in  176G,  and  in  1790  was  married 
to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Pcrrin  Ross,  who  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Wyoming.  Mr.  Wells  moved  up  the  Wyalusing  and 
built  the  house  afterward  occupied  by  Elisha  Lewis,  where  he 
died  in  1828.     About  the  year  1800,  the  townships  of  Brain- 


GENERAL    HISTORY.  79 

trim  and  Wyalusing  were  united  in  one  election  district,  and 
Guy  Wells  was  chosen  justice  of  the  peace.  lie  continued  to 
hold  the  office  until  1825,  so  that  he  well  earned  the  title  esquire, 
by  which  he  was  designated,  and  left  an  honorable  testimony 
to  his  character  for  judgment  and  integrity  as  well  as  to  the 
respect  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  people  of  his  neighborhood. 
David  Shoemaker  and  Thomas  Wigton,  brothers-in-law  to 
Major  Gaylord,  were  among  the  settlers  of  this  period,  the 
former  living  at  Porterville  and  the  latter  on  the  farm  now  oc- 
cupied by  Seth  Homet.  Whether  Mr.  Wigton  resided  here 
before  the  Revolutionary  war  is  uncertain,  but  as  he  was  one  of 
the  original  proprietors  of  Springfield,  it  is  probable  that  he 
was  here  among  the  first  settlers.  He  was  quite  a  speculator 
in  lands  under  the  Connecticut  title,  a  school  teacher  for  some 
time,  and  engaged  in  various  enterprises,  none  of  which,  how- 
ever, resulted  in  any  very  great  pecuniary  benefit  to  him. 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year,  1787,  John  Franklin  was 
arrested  for  high  treason,  on  account  of  the  active  measures  in 
which  he  was  engaged  to  organize  a  new  State  out  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna company's  purchase;  and  the  next  year  Timothy 
Pickering  was  taken  by  the  friends  of  Franklin  and  for  some 
lime  held  by  them  as  a  hostage  for  the  release  of  their  leader. 
The  excitement  and  disturbances  which  grew  out  of  these  vio- 
lent proceedings  had  a  tendency  to  check  emigration  to  the 
upper  part  of  the  valley  and  so  interfered  with  the  domestic 
tranquility  of  the  people  that  no  trials  were  attempted  at  the 
sessions  of  the  Court  for  the  first  terms  of  this  year.  The  only 
business  of  which  there  is  record  is  the  appointment  of  officers 
and  dividing  the  county  into  election  districts.  Oliver  Dodge 
was  made  constable,  and  Elijah  Buck  and  Isaac  Hancock  over- 
seers of  the  poor.  The  first  election  district  extended  from 
the  State  line  to  where  the  road  crosvses  Roswell  Franklin's 


80  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

saw-mill  creek,  in  Wysox ;  the  second  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Wyalusing ;  the  third  to  Tagues  creek,  and  each  of  them  ex- 
tended east  and  west  across  the  county.  It  will  be  observed 
that  by  this  arrangement  the  settlement  of  Wyalusing  was  cut 
in  two,  much  to  the  inconvenience  of  the  people.  At  the 
September  term  of  the  Court,  Wyalusing  was  represented  by 
Justus  Gaylord  and  Joseph  Elliott  on  the  grand  jury,  and  at 
this  same  term  the  commission  was  appointed  to  lay  out  all 
necessary  roads  in  Springfield  township. 

Jonas  Ingham,  who  was  the  first  settler  on  the  Wyalusing 
above  the  Lewises,  was  born  in  Bucks  county  in  1746,  of 
Quaker  parentage,  and  by  trade  a  clothier.  In  1777  and  1778 
he  was  in  active  service  as  a  militia  man  ;  first  as  Lieutenant, 
then  as  Captain.  In  his  journal,  from  which  I  shall  quote  at 
some  length,  he  says :  "  During  the  months  of  November, 
December  and  January,  we  suffered  much  with  cold,  lying  out 
of  doors  on  the  ground  the  whole  time,  with  nothing  to  cover 
us,  but  each  of  us  a  single  blanket.  I  was  at  the  battle  called 
the  Gulph  Mills,  and  so  afraid  of  being  called  a  coward,  that  I 
was  among  the  last  left  on  the  battle  ground  ;  and  I  was  very 
near  being  taken  prisoner."  He  remained  in  Bucks  county 
for  some  time  after  the  war,  but  in  1789  he  determined  to 
change  his  residence.  His  journal  says  ;  "  I  traveled  north- 
ward toward  Wyoming,  that  had  lately  been  esteemed  a  hostile 
Indian  country,  and  "noted  for  the  wars  between  Connecticut 
and  Pennsylvania.  Wyoming  then  was  but  thinly  inhabited, 
the  land  along  the  river  flat,  Avide  and  extensive,  and  very 
rich.  I  traveled  up  the  Susquehanna,  following  the  course  of 
the  river — found  it  had  been  traveled  very  little,  hardly 
a  plain  track,  and  this  Tery  crooked  and  hard  to  follow — quite 
impassable  for  more  than  a  man  and  a  single  horse.  Along 
the  edges  of  the  precipices,  next  the  river,  and  other  places  I 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  81 

had  to  ascend  and  descend  from  uiic  ledge  of  rocks  to  another 
some  feet  perpendicular,  at  a  great  height  from  the  water,  and 
in  some  places  exceedingly  dangerous.  The  habitations  of  man 
were  very  few,  and  the  inhabitants  instead  of  being  glad  to 
converse  with  strangers  or  travelers,  would  hardly  speak  to 
them.  When  I  would  ask  them  concerning  the  way  they 
would  hardly  give  me  an  answer.  The  chief  they  would  say  : 
*  Take  any  road,  you  can't  miss  the  way.'  I  had  occasion  to 
lodge  three  nights  among  these  kind  of  people  before  I  reach- 
ed Wyalusing.  When  I  arrived  at  Wyalusing  I  saw  the  re- 
mains of  an  old  Indian  settlement,  and  but  few  habitations  of 
the  present  settlers,  although  there  were  more  than  1  saw." 
Remaining  at  Wyalusing  over  night  he  went  six  miles  up  tlie 
creek  "through  very  thick  woods, to  where  there  were  signs  of  an 
Indian  improvement  and  a  hunter's  cabin."  This  tract  he  took 
up  and  thought  to  hold  under  the  confirming  law,*  but  that 
law  being  soon  repealed,  left  him  without  title  ;  he  then  took 
out  a  Connecticut  title,  thinking  this  better  than  none.  lie 
says,  "  I  took  possession  of  the  hunter's  cabin  and  lived  in  it 
the  greatest  part  of  five  or  six  summers  from  1780-1705.  The 
nearest  house  to  me  was  three  miles,  (that  of  Mr.  Le\\is)  where 
I  went  to  get  victuals."  "  After  the  repeal  of  the  confirming 
law,  the  settling  of  land  under  Pennsylvania  title  was  little 
thought  of,  and  the  inhabitants  had  frequent  meetings.  At 
Tioga  Point,  at  one  of  them,  I  expressed  myself  with  so  much 
spirit  on  the  subject  of  the  repeal  of  the  confirming  law,  that 
they  saw  fit  to  choose  me  one  of  their  directors.  After  this 
I  was  requested  to  deliver  a  discourse  on  the  Fourth  of  July, 
(1801)  to  include  this   subject.      The    discourse    I    delivered 

*  The  conflrming  law  p:»s9ed  March  28,  1788,  provided  "That  all  the  said  ^i^'hts  or  lots 
now  lying  in  the  county  of  Luzarne,  which  were  occupied  or  acquired  liy  Conneitiout 
claiments  who  were  actual  Rettlers  there  at  or  before  the  ttTmination  of  the  claim  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut  by  the  [Trenton]  decree,  aforesaid,  and  which  riKhts  or  lots  were  par- 
ticularly assigned  to  the  said  settlers  prior  to  the  said  decree,  agreeable  to  the  regulations 
then  in  force  among  them,  be  and  they  arc  hereby  conflrmod  to  tbom  and  their  heirs  and 
assigns."    This  law  was  repealed  April  1,  1790. 


82  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

pleased  the  people  very  much,  who  were  now  settling  under 
Connecticut  title,  and  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  was 
passing  very  severe  laws  against  them,  as  the  Intrusion  laws 
and  Territorial  act,  and  the  people  were  very  much  harrassed 
by  them." 

In  1804  he  was  chosen,  as  he  says,  very  unexpectedly  to 
himself,  to  represent  Luzerne  county  in  the  State  Legislature, 
and  through  his  eiforts  the  obnoxous  laws  above  referred  to, 
were  repealed.  The  next  year  the  whole  'settlement  was 
thrown  into  a  ferment  by  an  ejectment  suit  being  brought 
against  Mr.  Ingham,  which  was  finally  terminated  by  purchas- 
ing the  Pennsylvania  title.  The  next  year  after,  (1806)  as 
Mr.  Robinson,  a  well-known  surveyor,  was  tracing  the  Dundee 
Manor  line,  some  of  the  people  near  Camptown  fearing  that 
this  was  done  to  dispossess  them  of  their  lands,  determined  to 
stop  the  survey.  Here  we  will  let  Mr.  Ingham  tell  the  story  : 
"  The  inhabitants  in  the  settlement  were  all  of  them  very 
averse  to  any  surveys  being  made,  for  fear  of  ejectments,  and 
thereby  furnishing  the  means  for  land  owners  to  prove  their 
rights.  Some  of  them  queried  with  me  what  kind  of  opposit- 
ion to  make.  1  told  them  to  make  any  kind  of  opposition 
they  pleased,  only  to  kill  and  hurt  nobody,  nor  let  anybody 
appear  in  arms.  When  this  surveyor  came,  a  great  many  of 
the  inhabitants  collected,  some  in  the  woods  shooting,  others 
around  the  surveyor,  threatening  him.  I  M'as  afraid  some 
worse  mischief  would  happen,  so  I  ordered  some  one  to  break 
the  compass  or  I  would.  Upon  this,  one  of  the  company 
broke  the  compass,  and  the  surveyor  went  away  ;  and  not  a 
great  while  afterwards,  a  United  States  officer  was  sent  to  ar- 
rest those  who  stopped  the  surveyor  and  broke  his  compass, 
and  four*  of  them  were  taken  and  had  to  go  to  Philadelphia.    I 

♦Three  of  those  wore  Major  Wells,  Job  Camp  and  John  Lewis.  WlUi  genuine  Yankee 
spirit  they  euKagerl  to  assist  Sheriff  Wheeler  iu  conveyinp:  another  prisoner  to  Philadel- 
phia, for  which  they  received  enough  to  pay  their  expenses. 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  83 

went  with  them  to  excuse  them,  and  take  theii  part  and  de- 
fend them  as  well  as  I  could.  Accordingly  when  they  appear- 
ed before  the  Court,  in  the  representation  which  I  made  to  the 
lawyer  who  spoke  for  me,  I  took  all  the  blame  upon  myself. 
I  stated  the  case  as  it  really  was.  I  said  the  people  wore  ig- 
norant and  only  did  what  I  bid  them,  Avhich  I  thought  was 
letter  than  might  have  happened  otherwise.  This  the  lawyer 
stated  to  the  Court  in  a  few  words,  then  expatiated  largely  on 
the  commendable  part  I  had  acted.  Before  he  was  done,  an- 
other lawyer  got  up  and  addressed  the  Court,  and  said  he  was 
perfectly  well  acquainted  with  me  and  that  I  was  a  very  good 
man.  Thus,  contrary  to  my  expectations,  I  received  great 
honor  and  applause,  when  1  apprehended  I  should  receive  sc- 
ceive  censure  and  reprimand,  as  the  encourager  and  ringlead- 
er of  outlaws.  They  were  all  dismissed  to  go  home  about  their 
business  with  only  paying  the  cost." 

Subsequently  Mr.  Ingham  entered  into  an  extensive  corres- 
pondence with  the  Pennsylvania  claimants  of  the  land,  for  the 
purjiose  of  obtaining  from  them  some  adjustment  of  the 
title  fthich  the  Connecticut  people  would  accept.  But  in  this 
his  efforts  were  unavailing.  The  result  was,  that  many  bitter 
controversies  ensued,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  community 
was  greatly  retarded.  As  illustrating  the  spirit  in  which  this 
controversy  was  carried  on  the  following  anecdote  may  be  in 
point.  Ezekiel,  son  of  Thomas  Brown,  held  a  tract  of  land 
under  Connecticut  title,  and  after  he  had  occu}>ied  it  some 
time  and  made  some  improvement,  a  gentleman  came  to  his 
house  and  informed  him  that  he,  the  stranger,  owned  that 
land  ;  to  which  Mr.  Brown  replied,  that  if  he  owned  any  land 
there,  it  was  seven  feet  beloAV  the  surface,  and  casting  a  glance 
toward  his  rifle,  added  unless  he  was  gone  immediately,  he 
would  be  put  in  possession  of  it.  The  stranger  took  the  hint 
and  left. 


84  GENERAL    HISTORY. 

Mr.  Ingham  died  suddenly  in  Bloomsburg,  N.  J.,  October 
28,  1820.  In  a  notice  of  him  Mr.  Miner  says  :  "  Possessing 
an  unusual  share  of  philanthrophy,  and  a  mind  highly  cultiva- 
ted by  scientific  research,  he  steadfastly  espoused  the  cause  of 
the  settlers,  in  that  part  of  their  country,  and  his  virtues  and 
usefulness  acquired  for  him  their  confidence  and  esteem,  which 
he  continued  to  enjoy  through  the  remainder  of  his  life.  lie 
was  a  republican  in  deed  and  in  truth,  a  model  of  temperance 
and  a  promoter  of  the  peace  and  harmony  of  society."  The 
decendcnts  of  Mr.  Ingham  continue  to  reside  in  this  and  ad- 
joining townships. 

About  1790,  the  Terrys,  Uriah  and  Parshall,  came  to  Wy- 
alusing  and  lived  for  a  time  on  the  bank  near  the  junction  of 
the  creek  with  the  river.  Uriah,  though  advanced  in  life, 
grave  and  sedate  in  deportment,  took  a  deep  interest  in  mat- 
ters of  education,  and  in  the  winter  of  1792-3  commenced  a 
school  in  the  house  of  Major  Gaylord.  The  following  spring 
the  log  school  house  was  built  near  where  the  Presbyterian 
church  now  stands,  and  on  its  completion,  the  school  was  mov- 
ed into  it.  This,  so  far  as  can  now  be  learned,  was  the  first 
school  taught  in  Wyalusing,  and  the  first  school  house  built  in 
the  township.  This  house  was  burned  down,  and  another 
which  was  also  burned,  was  built  of  hewed  logs  and  stood  just 
in  front  of  the  cemetery.  This  school  was  long  before  the  era 
of  public  schools,  when  every  parent  educated  his  own  child- 
ren as  a  religious  duty,  and  sought  every  opportunity  to  avail 
himself  of  all  the  advantages  within  his  reach.  The  master 
was  paid  by  a  small  fee  charged  to  each  scholar,  which  varied 
from  a  bushel  of  corn  to  a  bushel  of  wheat  per  quarter.  Who 
succeeded  Uriah  Terry  in  the  school  at  Wyalusing,  I  have 
been  unable  to  learn. 

Parshall  Terry  was  as  deeply  interested  on  the  Connecticut 


GENIIRAL    HISTORY.  85 

side  of  the  land  controversy  as  any  man  in  the  townsliip,  and 
exerted  himself  as  earnestly  to  induce  Connecticut  settlers  to 
come  into  the  valley.  He  was  in  constant  correspondence  and 
perfect  sympatliy  with  Jenkins,  Franklin,  and  others  of  that 
class,  who  sincerely  hclieved  in  the  justice  of  their  claims,  and 
had  perfect  confidence  that  when  those  claims  were  fairly  tried 
they  would  he  fully  allowed.  In  1702  he  went  to  Terrytown, 
where  he  remained  until  his  title  was  set  aside  under  the  com- 
promise acts,  when  he  left  the  State  and  went  to  New  York 
where  he  died. 

About  1791  Benjamin  Ackley  first  came  into  the  township, 
remaining  here  a  part  of  the  time  until  November,  1793,  wh(n 
ho  moved  his  fimily  here  and  lived  in  a  log  house  where  Elisha 
Lewis'  house  now  stands.  He  was  the  first  regular  blacksmith 
in  the  township,  and  until  he  arrived  there  was  none  nearer 
than  Blackwalnut.  Mr.  Ackley  was  born  in  Litchfield  county, 
Connecticut,  in  1769.  His  first  wife  was  Nancy  Maxficld,  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  1780.  She  having  died  he  married 
Amy,  daughter  of  Thomas  Lewis  in  1812.  In  1813  he  was 
commissioned  Justice  of  tlie  Peace  and  held  the  oflice  for  ten 
years.  He  died  in  ViWalusing  in  1855.  Mr.  Ackley  reared 
a  large  family  of  children,  many  of  whom  still  reside  in  the 
township.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  somewhat  later  than  the 
period  now  under  consideration,  there  were  four  families  living 
upon  one  scjuare  mile,  who  collectively  numbered  upwards  of 
sixty  children,  viz  :  John  IloUenback,  Major  Taylor,  Mr. 
Buck  and  Mr.  Ackley. 

On  the  4th  of  May,  1775,  Henry  Pawling,  a  wealthy  gen- 
tleman of  Montgomery  county,  purchased  a  tract  consisting  of 
G52  acres  of  land  of  Job  Chillaway,  the  Indian  chief  to  whom 
Gov.  Ponn  had  granted  the  lands  on  which  the  mission  was  lo- 
cated.*    Pawling  was  not  only  a  man  of  wealth  and  influence, 

*Thl8  18  neai-ly  tlio  Banie  as  the  HogBboon  pitch  of  the  Connecticut  survey,     Pean'i 
warrant  tu  Chillu^vay  id  dated  March  2,  1774,    Most  likely  the  survc-y  was  made  c-uUer. 


8G  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

but  was  warmly  enlisted  on  tlie  side  of  Congress,  and  contri- 
buted largely  to  the  support  of  the  American  army  during  that 
trying  winter  of  its  encampment  at  Valley  Forge,  and  enjoy- 
ed the  confidence  of  the  Commander-in-chief.  About  1786 
his  daughter  Catherine  was  married  to  Joseph  Stalford,  and 
Mr.  Pawling  having  bequeathed  to  her  a  large  portion  of  his 
Wyalusing  lands,  the  Stalfords  removed  here  in  the  spring  of 
1792.  Samuel  Stalford,  the  father  of  Joseph,  was  born  in  the 
parish  of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  17 1>'.  While  quite  a  young 
man  he  emigrated  to  this  country,  married  Elizabeth  Kichard- 
son  of  Philadelphia,  removed  first  to  Montgomer}^  count3%  and 
then  to  Wyalusing,  where  he  died  in  1802.  Joseph  Stalford 
died  in  Wyalusing  in  1801,  in  the  47th  year  of  his  age.  His 
family  for  the  most  part  have  remained  on  the  old  place,  and 
are  among  the  few  families  who  for  more  than  three-fourth's 
of  a  century  have  cultivated  the  same  soil  and  become  identi- 
fied with  the  history  of  the  township.  In  1795,  Joseph  Stal- 
ford had  the  highest  valuation  of  any  man  in  the  present 
township. 

In  1792,  Job  Camp  came  to  Wyalusing,  planted  a  piece  of 
corn,  and  after  it  was  harvested,  returned  to  Connecticut  for 
his  family,  moved  in  the  next  3'ear,  and  settled  at  Camptown, 
which  was  then  a  dense,  unbroken  wil(lei-nc?s.  At  this  time, 
there  were  beside  Jonas  Ingham,  two  or  three  families  above 
him  on  the  creek.  As  illustrating  the  dilTiculties  which  the 
early  settlers  experienced  in  their  emigration  to  the  country, 
the  case  of  Mr.  Camp  is  in  point,  lie  started  from  Connect- 
icut with  a  yoke  of  oxen,  whicli  were  used  to  transport  his 
family  and  goods.  Taking  the  usual  course  of  the  emigrants, 
across  the  country  from  the  Hudson  to  Stroudsburg,  and 
through  the  great  swamp,  they  reached  the  Susquehanna  at 
Pittston.     The  route  was  a  slow  and  toilsome  one,  but  thus  far 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  87 

there  was  a  road  along  -wbich  they  could  drive  a  team,  but  up 
the  river  there  ^Yas  nothing  but  the  narrow  Indian  path.  They 
were  therefore  compelled  to  unyoke  their  oxen  and  drive  them 
along  singly.  The  cart,  younger  members  of  the  family,  and 
housekold  goods  were  then  placed  on  a  keel-boat,  and  two  men 
were  hired  to  pusli  it  up  the  river  to  Wyalusing.  The  progress 
was  slow  and  the  labor  severe,  and  several  days  were  necessary 
for  the  trip.  It  took  all  of  Mr.  Camp's  crop  of  corn  raised 
the  preceeding  year  to  pay  the  boatmen,  and  the  family  were 
obliged  to  get  along  as  best  they  could  until  another  crop  was 
harvested.  Mr.  Camp  was  by  trade  a  carpenter,  and  the  3^ear 
he  moved  in,  built  a  large  barn  for  Mr.  Lewis,  the  first  erected 
on  the  Wyalusing.  In  1795,  he  built  a  barn  for  himself, 
which  is  still  standing.  This  barn  is  covered  with  boards  split 
out  of  pine  logs,  and  are  fastened  on  with  wrought  nails  made 
by  Solomon  Bosworth,  who  had  moved  up  the  "Wyalusing. 
Speaking  of  the  Camp  family,  they  are  said  to  have  decended 
from  a  Welch  cabin-boy  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower. 
The  family  was  numerous  and  have  all  lived  to  a  great  age. 
William,  son  of  Job,  relates  many  anecdotes  of  the  wolves  and 
panthers  who  made  havoc  among  their  flocks,  whose  bowlings 
made  nightly  music  about  their  dwellings,  and  whose  depreda- 
tions added  no  little  to  the  distress  experienced  by  these  ear- 
ly settlers. 

It  is  difiicult  to  estimate  the  amount  of  courage  and  forti- 
tude possessed  by  these  pioneers,  who  could  bring  their  famil- 
ies into  such  a  wilderness,  forsaking  nearly  every  comfort, 
braving  toil  and  danger,  sufi"ering  frequently  from  hunger,  liv- 
ing in  cabins  which  afforded  but  the  merest  shelter,  with  but 
few  social  advantages,  or  religious  or  educational  priviliges ; 
and  hew  out  for  themselves  homes  in  the  forest,  and  rear  up 
their  families  to  respectability,  wealth  and  influence  ;  nor  can 


b»  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

wc  wonder,  when  after  having  made  for  themselves  a  compara- 
tively comfortable  home  on  lands  purchased  in  good  faith,  they 
should  resist  with  all  their  might  the  claims  of  land  specula- 
tors, who  under  the  color  of  law,  sought  to  drive  them  from 
their  dearly  bought  possessions,  and  turn  them  and  their  fam- 
ilies naked  and  homeless  asjain  into  the  wilderness. 

Wyalusing  being  more  than  fifty  miles  distant  from  the  old- 
er settlements  in  the  Wyoming  valley,  upon  which  the  inhabi- 
tants Avere  dependent  for  many  of  their  necessary  supples,  and 
their  only  means  of  communication  being  either  along  the 
narrow  bridle  path,  which  Mr.  Ingham  has  so  well  described, 
or  by  the  river,  the  people  were  often  subject  to  great  incon- 
venience, especially  with  regard  to  their  grinding.  Families 
were  frequently  without  flour  or  fine  meal  for  weeks  at  a  time, 
and  meanwhile  obliged  to  depend  exclusively  upon  their  samp- 
morters,  which  consisted  of  a  log  one  end  of  which  was  burn- 
ed out  in  the  center,  using  for  a  pestle  a  stone  suspended  from 
a  neighboring  sapling.  In  this  rude  afiair  the  corn  could  be 
sufilciently  broken  for  making  samp  and  coarse  cakes,  which 
formed  the  principal  article  of  diet  for  most  of  the  inhabitants 
here  for  several  years.  Families  were  thus  in  many  instances 
compelled  to  subsist  on  food  no  better  than  that  which  now 
many  a  farmer  feeds  his  stock. 

The  Susquehanna  Company  ever  anxious  for  the  welfare  of 
the  settlers,  offered  a  township  of  land  to  the  one  who  should 
build  the  first  mill  in  Springfield  township.  This  offer  was 
accepted  by  Samuel  Gorden,  who  in  1793*  built  his  mill  near 
the  site  of  the  present  Lewis  mill  on  the  Wyalusing,  about 
three  miles  from  the  river. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  born  near  Ballcbay,  in  the  county  of  Mon- 

*ln  Mr.  Qordon'8  Day  Book,  now  in  possession  of  Harrison  Lamb,  his  grandson,  there  is 
this  note:  •'June  25,  1793.  Tliis  day  I  r;iiscd  my  mill."  It  did  not  get  in  operation  until 
thti  next  year. 


GEKERAL    IIISTOUT.  S^ 

aghan,  Ireland,  in  1740.     He  was  of  .SLOtch  descent,  of  good 
family,  education  and  property.       He  left  his  native  country 
accompanied  by  two  brothers,  one  of  whom,  Junes   Gordon, 
subsequently  settled  near  Standing  Stone,  and  a  young  man 
named  Gillespie,  during  some  difficulties  in  that  country,  at 
which  time  their  property  was  confisicated.    For  a  time  Mr.  Gor- 
don followed  the  sea,  after  which  he  settled  in  Elizabeth,  N.J., 
where  he  married  Mrs.  Jane  Gillespie,  widow  of  his  late  fellow 
passenger  across  the  Atlantic.     Afterwards  he  moved  to  Wy- 
oming, and  during  the  years  of  1770  and  1777  spent  some 
time  in  the  neighborhood  of  Wyalusing,  making  surveys  under 
direction  of  the  Susquehanna  company.     On  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Revolutionary  war,  Mr.  Gordon  retired  to  New  Jersey, 
where  he  remained  until  1792,  when  he  again  entered  into  the 
employment  of  the  Susquehanna  company  as  a  surveyor,  and 
at  the  same  time  operated  quite  extensively  as  a  land  dealer. 
His  mill  which  was  commenced  soon  after,  consisted  of  one  run 
of  home-made  stone,  without  bolts,  was  built  under  great  dif- 
ficulties arising  from  the  scarcity  of  money  in  the  settlement 
and  the  want  of  experienced  workmen ;  while  all  of  the  iron 
used  in  its  construction  was  transported  from  Wilkes-Barre  at 
much  trouble  and  expense.     The  mill  being  completed,  on  the 
first  of  May,  1795,  the  township  of  Walsingham  was  surveyed 
to  Mr.  Gordon,  according  to  previous  stipulation.    He  was  also 
one  of  the  proprietors  of  Stephensburg,  but  owiHg  to  the  inval- 
idity of  Connecticut  titles  in  these  townships,  he  failed  to  re- 
ceive any  advantage  from  these  possessions.     Even  the  mill 
which  had  cost  him  so  much,  was  lost  through  the  same  defect 
in  the  title.     Two  persons  by  the  name  of  Porter,  purchased 
the  Pennsylvania  title  for  the  land  on  which  it  was  built  and 
Mr.  Gordon  becoming  alarmed  for   the  validity  of  his  claim, 
as  additional  security,  was  induced  to  take  a  lease  of  the  lands 
under  the  Porters  and  this  acknowledgement  of  their  claim, 


130  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

lost  him  the  property,  which  the  commissioners  in  1804  as- 
signed to  the  Porters.  Mr.  Gordon  was  therefore  compelled 
to  vacate  the  land  and  leave  his  improvements  made  at  so 
much  sacrifice.  This  is  but  a  single  instance  out  of  raany, 
where  this  complication  of  title  led  to  like  disastrous  results, 
by  which  families,  once  in  comfortable  circumstances,  were  sud- 
denly reduced  to  poverty.  On  the  organization  of  the  town- 
ship Mr.  Gordon  was  appointed  clerk,  and  for  many  years  the 
records,  which  are  beautifully  written,  were  kept  by  him.  He 
died  in  Wyalusing  in  1810,  where  his  only  surviving  daugh- 
ter, who  nas  furnished  most  of  the  facts  in  this  sketch,  erect- 
ed a  stone  to  his  memory. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  Mr.  Gordon's  grist  mill,  Jo- 
scph  C.  Town,  a  carpenter  by  trade, -©offie- to  Wyalusing  and 
put  up  a  saw  mill  on  the  creek  near  where  Mr.  Aaron  Culver 
now  lives.  This  contributed  largely  to  the  welfare  of  the  set- 
tlement. Previous  to  this  boards  were  split  out  of  pine  logs 
from  four  to  six  feet  long.  The  process  was  slow  and  expen- 
sive, although  suitable  pine  trees  were  abundant.  In  1798 
Mr.  Town  erected  a  grist  mill  at  the  same  place,  of  superior 
construction  to  that  of  Mr.  Gordon's,  and  containing  a  bolt 
for  making  flour.  This,  however,  was  swept  away  by  a  fresh- 
et in  the  creek  in  the  spring  of  1800  or  1801.  Mr.  Town 
was  from  Conn.,  and  married  a  sister  of  Frances  Slocum.  Mrs. 
Town  went  west  with  her  brother  in  search  of  their  lost  sister, 
and  the  frequent  visits  of  the  Slocum  family  at  Mr.  Town's, 
made  all  of  the  older  people  here  familiar  with  the  story  of 
the  capture  and  discovery  of  Frances,  to  which  allusion  has 
been  made  in  another  place. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  troubles  in  France  which  culmina- 
ted in  the  Revolution,  many  who  sympathized  with  the  royal 
party,  fled  from  their  native  country  to  various  parts  of  Eu- 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  -H 

rope  and  America.  Of  these  Viscount  Louis  M.  De  Noailles 
and  Omar  Talon,  who  had  been  connected  vrith  the  royal 
household,  went  first  to  England,  and  then  to  the  United 
States.  In  Philadelphia  they  met  with  Robert  Morris  and 
John  Nicholson  who  were  in  possession  of  large  tracts  of  un- 
cultivated land  in  Pennsylvania,  with  whom  they  formed  an 
association  known  as  the  Asylum  and  Holland  Laud  company, 
and  increased  their  estates  to  a  million  of  acres.  Their  first 
colony  was  planted  on  Shewfelt  fiats,  which  from  the  fact  that 
it  was  peopled  mostly  by  refugees  from  France,  received  the 
name  of  Asylum,  a  name  it  has  ever  since  retained.  It  is  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Susquehanna,  near  the  upper  limits  of 
the  old  Wyalusing  township,  and  in  the  present  township  of 
Asylum.  In  December,  1793,  the  first  houses  were  erected, 
and  within  a  year  and  a  half,  there  were  some  twenty  or  tAven- 
ty-five  families  there,  several  of  whom  were  persons  of  note 
in  their  own  country,  some  having  been  connected  with  the 
royal  household,  and  others  engaged  in  the  public  service  of 
the  kingdom.  A  colony  of  such  persons,  whose  business  re- 
lations threw  them  into  immediate  contact  with  the  people 
here,  could  not  fail  to  exert  upon  them  a  marked  influence. 
Previous  to  the  planting  of  the  colony  there  was  scarcely  a 
dollar  of  money  in  the  township — all  exchanges  being  carried 
on  by  barter.  This  cumberous  mode  of  exchange  was  attend- 
ed with  great  loss  and  inconvenience  to  all  parties,  and  served 
to  greatly  retard  the  progress  of  the  settlement.  The  refugees 
brought  Avith  them  considerable  sums  of  money ;  the  colony 
aflforded  a  market  for  grain  and  cattle.  The  colonists  immedi- 
ately commenced  constructing  superior  roads,  erecting  manu- 
factories and  comfortable  houses,  and  engaged  laborers  to  as- 
sist in  clearing  and  cultivating  their  lands.  By  these  means 
their  money  soon  came  into  general  circulation.  At  that  time 
there  were  no  mails  to  these    distant    settlements,   and  tlio 


92  GES^ERAL   HiSTORt; 

French  established  a  line  of  expresses  to  Philadelphia,  by 
means  of  which  the  inhabitants  along  the  route  were  brought 
into  nearer  contact  with  the  outer  world.  The  habits  and 
manners  of  refined  society  which  the  refugees  maintained  even 
in  their  new  colony,  were  not  without  a  geniel  influence  upon 
the  ruder  people  that  surrounded  them;  so  that  although  their 
ignorance  of  the  language  and  customs  of  the  people  in  the 
settlements  was  a  bar  to  free  intercourse,  yet  their  advent 
proved  to  be  an  era  in  the  development  of  this  new  country, 
and  their  influence  was  felt  for  years  afterward.  Under  the 
stimulous  of  their  example,  enterprise  and  refinement,  aided 
by  the  gold  and  silver  they  had  put  in  circulation,  similar  im- 
provements were  commenced  by  the  people  around  them  ;  roads 
were  opened,  mills  were  built,  farms  and  houses  were  improv- 
ed, new  articles  of  furniture  were  introduced,  better  agricul- 
tural  implements  were  used,  the  rough  and  uncouth  habits  of 
border  life  began  to  yield  to  the  more  refined  intercourse  of  a 
higher  civilization.  The  colony  existed  only  a  few  years  and 
never  met  the  hopes  of  its  founders.  When  liberty  was  grant- 
ed'^e  refugees  to  return  to  France,  they  gladly  accepted  the 
offer,  leaving  the  most  of  their  improvements  in  the  possession 
of  two  or  three  families  who  chose  to  cast  their  fortunes  in 
this  new  land,  and  whose  descendents  are  among  the  best  farm- 
ers of  this  and  adjoining  townships.* 

About  1794-95  Major  Gaylord  built  the  first  distillery  in 
the  township  near  where  Henry  Gaylord  now  lives.  The  use 
and  trafic  in  ardent  spirits  were  then  regarded  in  a  very  dif- 
ferent way  from  what  they  now  are.  Then  alcoholic  drinks 
were  looked  upon  as  an  absolute  necessity.  They  were  the 
medicine  for  the  sick  and  the  help  for  the  well.  No  one 
thought  of  engaging  in  any  work,  going  on  a  journey,  or  re- 

*The  author  )iopeB  in  a  short  time  to  give  the  public  through  the  Bradford  County  Hla- 
toriral  Society,  a  raoro  detailed  aLCount  of  the  French  at  Asylum. 


GENERAL    illSTORY.  93 

celving  friends  without  a  supply  of  the  needful  article.  This 
was  the  prevailing  habit  with  the  best  men  in  the  country. 
Every  man  kept  it  in  his  house,  and  every  merchant  in  his 
store  and  sold  it  as  readily  as  he  would  now  sell  sugar  or  mo- 
lasses, and  the  man  who  run  a  distillery  was  regarded  as  con- 
tributing  largely  to  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  by 
making  a  market  for  the  grain,  and  at  the  same  time  supply- 
ing the  inhabitants  with  a  most  necessary  article.  Within  a 
few  years  after,  there  were  no  less  than  five  distilleries  at  one 
time  in  the  township. 

The  organization  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Wyalusing 
during  this  period,  has  been  spoken  of  at  length  and  need  not 
now  be  repeated.  When  the  first  white  people  came  to  Wya- 
lusing, and  for  many  years  afterward  the  only  roads  were  the 
narrow  Indian  paths  along  the  river  and  up  the  creek.  About 
the  commencement  of  the  Revolution  this  path  had  been  widen- 
ed and  improved,  but  was  still  narrow  and  difiicult.  In  Sept. 
1788,  on  the  petition  of  sundry  persons  at  Wyalusing  a  com- 
mittee •»«»«.  appointed  to  lay  out  all  needful  roads  in  Spring- 
field township.  In  June,  1790,  this  committee  reported  a 
view  and  survey  of  two  roads,  one  following  nearly  the  course 
of  the  present  old  stage  road  to  Towanda,  and  the  other  ex- 
tending some  two  miles  further  up  the  creek.  In  Jan.,  1795, 
another  committee  was  appointed  who  laid  out  a  road  from 
Miner  York's  to  the  forks  of  the  Wyalusing,  where  at  this 
time  there  were  a  few  families  settled.  Mr.  Ingham  has  given 
an  account  of  the  roads  in  1789,  and  in  1795  they  were  not 
much  better.  The  country  being  covered  with  dense  forests, 
it  Avas  almost  impossible  to  make  the  road  passable.  Duke  De 
la  Rochfoucault  Liancourt,  a  French  nobleman  who  passed 
through  here  in  May,  1795,  has  given  a  description  of  the 
journey  which  will  convey  to  the  reader  a  good  idea  of  the 
roads  at  the  close  of  the  period  under  consideration.     He 


94  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

says :  "  The  road  was  bad,  and  we  were  several  times  obliged 
to  travel  in  foot-paths  which  were  hardly  passable.  We  fre- 
([uently  met  with  quaries  of  mill-stone  (?)  and  with  spots, 
Avhere  a  path  only  eighteen  inches  in  breadth  was  cut  through 
the  rock,  or  where  the  road  was  supported  by  trunks  of  trees, 
narrowed  by  falls  of  earth,  obstructed  by  fallen  trees,  and  led 
along  the  edge  of  a  precipice.  *  *  At  times  the  road  is 
even  and  good,  often  recently  cut  through  the  wood  or  inter- 
rupted by  new  settlements,  [clearings]  the  fences  of  which  oc- 
casion a  circuit  of  near  a  furlong,  at  the  end  of  which  it  is 
difficult  to  find  the  road  again.  We  often  passed  over  decliv- 
ities, rendered  more  dangerous  by  the  ground  being  strewed 
with  loose  stones  or  fragments  of  rocks.  Fortunately  it  so 
happened  that  we  never  got  more  than  a  few  rods  out  of  our 
road,  but  we  were  obliged  to  enquire  of  every  one  we  met  to 
avoid  more  considerable  detention." 

At  the  close  of  1795,  there  were  about  forty-five  or  fifty 
families  within  the  present  limits  of  the  township.  These 
were  scattered  along  the  river  from  Browntown  to  Fairbanks, 
a  distance  of  about  six  miles,  and  about  the  same  distance  up 
the  creek.*  To  these  were  assessed  about  eight  thousand 
acres  of  land,  of  which  excepting  the  mission  lands,  but  little 
if  any  more  than  one-fifth  were  cultivated.  The  people  occu- 
pied log  houses  in  a  few  of  w:hich  the  logs  were  hewed  and 
dovetailed  together,  but  in  the  greater  number  the  logs  were 
left  round  and  barely  notched  at  the  corners,  the  interstices 
filled  with  mud,  and  the  roof  covered  with  unshaved  shingles. 
One  room  below  and  the  loft,  to  Avhich  access  was  had  by  a 
ladder  from  the  outside,  were  the  extent  of  the  accommoda- 
tions ;  while  the  low,  narrow  door,  the  six  lighted  window,  and 
the  great  fireplace  were  its  principal  sources  of  comfort.     In- 

•'At  llii>i  till)'*  Hfttlomi'iits  li.-ul  been  made  up  the  Wyalnsing  as  far  as  Oie  fprka. 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  95 

to  these  rude  cabins  the  rains  and  sunshine,  the  winds  and 
snows  found  free  access,  and  yet  these  narrow  and  uncomfort- 
able abodes  were  the  only  residences  in  the  township  for  many 
years.  The  first  framed  buildings  were  a  small  shop  put  up 
by  Robert  Lattimore  near  where  Mr.  Bixby's  house  now 
stands,  and  the  dwelling  erected  by  Joseph  Stalford. 

Occasionally  the  settler  had  a  log  barn,  and  more  frequent- 
ly a  shed  covered  with  straw  for  the  protection  of  his  stock. 
Many  of  the  families  here  were  of  the  very  best  that  New 
England  could  furnish,  who  in  that  spirit  of  enterprise  which 
has  ever  characterized  the  people  of  that  region,  came  here 
for  the  purpose  of  making  a  home  for  themselves  and  for  their 
families,  while  others  were  of  a  roving  dissolute  class,  such  as 
always  hang  upon  border  settlements,  who  contribute  but  lit- 
tle, if  anything,  to  the  general  good  of  the  community. 

The  following  is  the  description  given  by  the  French  trav- 
eler, who  was  mentioned  above  :  "  The  dwelling  houses  in  this 
district  are  most  of  them  so  new  that  the  inhabitants  are  oft- 
en ignorant  of  the  names  of  places  which  are  scarce  two 
miles  distant,  so  that  their  information  beyond  the  next  farm 
house  is  not  to  be  depended  upon.  There  is  not  one  inn  on 
the  whole  road  [from  Wilkes-Barrie  to  Asylum]  but  some  pri- 
vate individuals  are  in  the  habit  of  selling  oats  to  travelers. 
They  live  at  certain  distances,  and  being  known,  travelers  con- 
stantly put  up  at  their  houses."  As  to  the  sort  of  entertain- 
ment these  houses  afforded  the  following  is  a  specimen  :  "  We 
found  in  this  house  (Hunt's  at  Hunt's  Ferry)  indian  corn  fur 
our  horses,  but  neither  oats  nor  hay,  and  no  milk  for  our- 
selves, nor  even  an  egg.  Beds  were  not  to  be  had."  The 
next  day  the  Duke  s,oes  on  to  say,  "In  the  morning  we  halt- 
ed at  one  Mr.  Gaylord's.  All  the  dwelling  houses  are  of  the 
same  sort.     We  pursued  our  journey  to  Asylum  by  Wyalusing. 


96  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

The  latter  is  a  considerable  village,  seated  on  a  creek  from 
which  it  takes  its  name."  This  is  the  only  village  mentioned 
in  the  whole  route  from  Wilkes-Barre  to  Tioga,  except  Asy- 
lum, thus  incidentally  confirming  what  has  been  said  of  the  im- 
portance of  Wyalusing  in  our  early  history. 

The  habits  of  the  people  were  simple  and  their  wants  few 
and  easily  supplied.  Corn  bread  and  venison  were  the  almost 
exclusive  articles  of  diet.  Most  of  the  Avheat  was  sent  to 
Philadelphia  by  way  of  Middletown,  to  which  place  it  was 
carried  in  arks  or  rafts,  and  thence  by  wagons  to  Philadelphia. 
The  price  per  bushel  was  one  dollar.  Rye  was  from  fifty  to 
seventy  cents,  and  oats  from  thirty  to  forty  cents  per  bushel. 
The  lighter  articles  of  clothing  were  made  from  flax  of  which 
every  family  raised  enough  for  their  own  use.  The  carding, 
spinning,  coloring  and  weaving  were  done  by  the  female  por- 
tion of  the  household,  and  each  matron  exhibited  the  various 
articles  of  home  manufacture  with  as  much  pride  as  the  pres- 
ent lady  of  fashion  flaunts  her  gold  and  jewels.  Carpets  were 
unknown,  but  the  white  sanded  floor  of  the  best  room,  when 
there  was  more  than  one  in  the  house,  displayed  the  thrift  of 
the  housewife.  Leather  was  one  of  the  most  difficult  articles 
to  be  procured,  and  shoes  were  a  very  expensive  necessity. 
In  the  warm  weather  almost  every  one  went  barefoot,  while 
those  who  where  able  to  have  a  pair  of  shoes  for  summer  use, 
carefully  kept  them  for  special  occasions.  It  was  common  on 
Sabbath  mornings,  to  see  women  and  the  larger  children  going 
to  meeting  barefoot,  shoes  in  hand,  which  were  put  on  when 
near  the  school  house  where  the  meeting  was  held,  and  when 
out  of  sight  of  it  on  their  return,  were  carefully  removed,  and 
laid  away  for  use  on  the  next  Sabbath.  As  there  were  no 
wagons,  people  traveled  either  on  foot  or  on  horseback,  and  it 
was  no  strange  sight  to  see  the  father,  mother  and  perhaps 
one  or  two  children  mounted  on  a  single  horse.     But  few  cat- 


GENERAL    JIISTORY.  97 

tie  or  sheep  were  raised  ;  of  the  former  on  account  of  the 
limited  extent  of  their  meadows,  of  the  latter  on  account  of 
imperfect  fences  around  their  fields  and  the  great  danger  ex- 
perienced from  the  wolves,  which  were  numerous  all  around 
the  settlement.  The  country,  for  the  most  part,  was  covered 
with  pine  and  hemlock  timber,  but  there  were  in  some  places 
groves  of  sugar-maple,  from  whose  sap,  in  the  spring,  consid- 
erable quantities  of  sugar  and  molasses  were  made.  In  1795 
maple  sugar  was  sold  for  14  or  15  cents  per  pound. 

During  thj  first  years  of  the  settlement,  on  account  of  the 
sparseness  of  the  population,  and  the  troubled  state  of  the 
country,  no  attempt  was  made  to  impose  taxes  upon  the  peo- 
ple ;  but  in  1795  an  assessment  was  made  and  a  tax  levied. 
This  assessment  of  course  covered  the  whole  township,  accord- 
ing to  the  limits  before  described.  From  this  list  as  nearly  as 
can  now^be  learned,  there  were  within  the  present  limits  of  the 
township  39  taxables*  to  whom  were  assessed  7341  acres  of 
land,  19  horses,  8(3  horned  cattle,  and  7  slaves,  with  a  valua- 
tion of  §10,291.  Tlius  21  years  after  the  first  settlement  was 
begun  here,  we  find  the  township  at  length  organized  and 
taking  its  place  among  the  other  townships  of  the  Common- 
wealth. "We  shall  have  occasion  by-and-by  to  note  the  pro- 
gress which  has  been  made  in  three-fourths  of  a  century. 


*Thc  following  is  the  list  of  taxables  :  Benjamin  Ackley,  Sherman  Buck,  Gic'.eou  Bald- 
win, Daniel  Brown,  Humphrey  Brown,  Richard  Baldwin,  Stephen  Seckwith,  Benjamin 
Crawford,  Dr.  Jabez  Chamboriain,  Job  Camp,  William  Dalton,  Samuel  Gordon,  .Tames 
Gordon,  Justus  Gaylord,  Jr.,  James  Hines,  Matthias  UoUenback,  (non-resident)  Isaac 
Hancock,  Nathan  Kingsley,  Warrum  Kingsley,  David  Lake,  Bobert  Lattimore,  Thoma« 
Lewis,  Thomas  Oviatt,  Johu  Ogden,  Philip  Place,  Reuben  Place.  Zacheriah  Price,  Israel 
Shear,  John  Shoemaker,  David  Shoemaker,  Thomas  Smiley,  Joseph  Stalford,  John  Taylor, 
Joseph  C.  Town,  Amasa  Wells,  Guy  We'ls,  Reubeu  Wells,  Nathan  Winton,  Miner  York. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

From  1796-1812. 

The'failm'o  of  the  scheme  for  establishing  a  new  State  to 
include  the  Susquehanna  company's  purchase  having  failed, 
and  the  enactments  of  tl>>e  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  being 
such  as  to  discourage  settlers  under  Connecticut  title,  emigra- 
tion from  New  England  nearly  ceased  as  early  as  the  begin- 
ning of  the  present  chapter,  and  thereafter  the  settlement  of 
the  Susquehanna  valley  was  not  almost  exclusively  from  the 
east. 

At  the  time  when  the  county  of  Luzerne  was  constituted, 
it  consisted  of  eleven  townships,  but  about  the  year  1800  these 
townships  were  divided  into  twenty-three,  and  new  election 
districts  wore  'defiued.  In  this  division  out  of  the  old  town- 
ship of  Wyalusing,  were  created  those  of  Braintrim,  Wyalu- 
sing  and  Rush,  while  the  two  former  were  united  in  one  elect- 
ion district  which  contained  225  taxables,  and  Guy  Wells, 
Jonathan  Stevens  and  H.  V.  Champin  were  commissioned 
justices  of  the  peace  for  the  district.  About  this  time  or  soon 
after  the  elections  were  held  at  the  house  of  Major  Gaylord. 
In  1801  John  Ilollenback  came  to  Wyalusing  and  bringing 
with  hira  2100  pounds  of  goods,  engaged  in  the  merchantile 
business.  Previous  to  this  Mr.  Gaylord  had  kept  a  few  goods 
for  the  use  of  the  settlers,  and  afterward  Peter  Stevens,  who 
occupied  a  house  nearly  opposite  the  Presbyterian  church,  had 
a  small  store,  but  neither  of  them  had  near  the  quantity 
brought  up  by  Mr.  Hollenback.  His  goods  were  brought  in 
wagons  to  Middletown,  where  they  were  loaded  on  boats  and 
taken  up  the  river. '*=     Mr.  Hollenback  had  been  engaged  since 

*Mr.  Jordan,  of  FhUadelpbia,  says  that  he  well  remembers  seeing  wagons  loaded  with 
«ooil8  at  his  father's  store  for  Wyaluslnft. 


ClEJfERAL   lilSTOUY.  99 

1796  in  trafic  fov  his  uncle,  ^rattliias  Hollenback,  wlio  at  tliat 
time  was  carrying  on  an  extensive  business  along  the  river. 
In  tlio  spring  of  1707  the  former  assisted  in  opening  a  sliad 
fishery  on  the  river  a  little  below  Wyalusing  village,  the  first 
opened  in  this  part  of  the  country.  In  1801  he  rafted  the 
first  platform  of  boards  at  Town's  mill  that  ever  went  out  of 
the  Wyalusing  creek.  After  his  settlement  here,  he  was  for 
many  years  prominent  in  the  business  of  the  place,  which,  so 
far  as  he  was  concerned,  was  conducted  with  great  energy. 
In  the  year  of  Mr.  Ilollenback's  removal  here,  (1801),  there 
was  a  grand  4th  of  July  celebration  at  Wyalusing.  Several 
things  contributed  to  give  it  interest.  First  there  was  the 
conflict  about  land  titles.  And  then  it  Avas  the  year  of  Mv. 
Jefferson's  accession  to  the  Presidency.  From  the  adoption  of 
the  Federal  Constitution  there  had  been  two  great  political 
parties  in  the  country,  and  in  1800  the  party  which  elected 
Mr.  Jefferson  had  for  the  first  time  been  successful  at  the 
ballot  box.  The  following  anniversary  of  American  Indepen- 
dence was  seized  upon  by  that  party,  wliich  was  largely  in  the 
ascendant  here,  for  a  general  jubilation.  General  Washington 
had  died  a  short  time  before,  and  it  seemed  to  be  a  great  con- 
solation to  the  democrats  to  have  Mr.  Jefierson  for  his  succes- 
sor in  the  Presidency.  All  of  these  things  combined  to  give 
this  first  general  celebration  of  American  Independence  at 
Wyalusing  great  interest.  People  assembled  from  all  parts  of 
the  country.  Such  a  gathering  had  never  been  witnessed  here 
bL'fore.  Mr.  Hollenback  presided  at  the  meeting.  Jonas 
Ingham  delivered  a  spirited  address  on  the  subject  of  "Dis- 
puted land  titles,"  in  which  he  defended  the  claims  of  the 
Connecticut  settlers,  and  with  great  severity  characterized  the 
adverse  legislation  of  Pennsylvania  as  opposed  to  the  liberty 
guarranteed  by  the  Constitution.  Uriah  Terry  prepared  the 
following  on  the  "Death  of  Washington,"  which  was  sung  bv 


100  GF.NKRAL    HISTORY. 

a  young  lady  named  Polly  Sill.  The  piece  is  inserted  not  so 
much  for  its  poetical  value,  as  for  its  local  associations  and  as 
indicating  the  feelings  of  the  dominant  party  in  the  country. 

THE     HERO. 


The  Hero's  dead,  mournful  the  sound  I 
How  largo  the  stroke,  how  deep  the  wound 
The  man  that  did  his  country  save, 
Lies  cold  and  silent  in  the  grave. 
He  led  our  forces  on  the  field. 
He  made  the  bold,  presumptuous,  yield. 
He  fought  the  foe  on  every  side. 
And  bravely  humbled  Briton's  pride. 

Can  we  forget  th'  impending  stroke, 
When  galled  beneath  the  British  yoke? 
Great  vV^ashington,  'twas  he,  'twas  he 
That  lead  us  through  that  bloody  sea. 
Perhaps  his  rival  can't  be  found 
Above  the  surface  of  the  ground  ; 
His  fame  has  spread  from  shore  to  shore. 
But  now,  alas  !  he  is  no  more. 

Ancient  Rome  nor  Ancient  Greece, 
In  time  of  war  nor  time  of  peace. 
With  all  their  boasted  sons  of  fame, 
Had  not  a  more  illustrious  name. 
Friendship  and  love  shone  in  his  face. 
Virtue  and  truth  he  did  embrace, 
He  kindly  soothed  and  hushed  our  fears, 
And  gently  wiped  our  falling  tears. 

But  plaintive  Muse,  forbear  to  sigh, 
For  Washington  was  born  to  die ; 
He  ever  was  his  country's  friend, 
But  Washington  must  hf.ve  an  end. 
And  must  it  be,  since  he  is  dead. 
That  all  our  happiness  has  fled  'i 
Behold  the  glorious  change  of  late  ! 
See  Jefl[erson"in  chair  of  State  ! 


(JKN'KnAL  in^Tonv.  101 

Great  talents  in  this  man  were  founfl, 
A  piercinnj  ^vit,  a  judgment  sound, 
A  cjenius  like  the  noondav  bright. 
Disponing  darkness  from  the  sight. 
We  Ijope  in  Jefferson  to  find 
A  father,  gracious,  good  and  kind; 
We  trust  he  will  protect  our  land, 
We  yield  to  him  both  heart  and  hand. 

We  bid  him  welcome  to  his  seat, 
Nor  do  we-  doubt  but  Ave  shall  meet 
With  every  favor  he  can  give, 
That 's  fit  for  subjects  to  receive. 
Hail  happy  day  of  jubilee, 
That  still  proclaims  us  to  be  free  ! 
Kind  and  benign  it  all  appears, 
Then  banish  all  foreboding  fears. 

See  Liberty  with  all  her  charms. 
Caressed  and  smiling  in  his  arms  1 
Behold  his  ever  outstretched  hand, 
Willing  to  guard  our  pleasant  land  ! 
His  heart  and  hands  and  lips  agree 
To  settle  firm  our  liberty  ; 
Sometimes  a  cloud  Avill  intervene, 
But  soon  again,  the  sun  is  seen. 

Dear  liberty  was  his  delight, 
He  ever  kept  it  fair  in  sight ; 
Dear  liberty,  that  lovely  flower 
That  shone  so  bright  in  Eden's  bower. 
His  soul  disdained  a  golden  bribe, 
Abhored  that  pride,  despotic  pride, 
Which  rankling  in  the  breast  of  knaves 
A\ouid  make  us  all  to  be  its  slaves. 

But  heaven  be  thanked,  the  bud  is  nipped  1 
The  towering  eagle  wings  are  clipped. 
They  will  not  freedom  overwhelm 
Since  Jefferson  has  took  the  helm. 
May  heaven  protect  him  all  his  life, 
Preserve  him  free  from  war  and  strife, 
Long  may  he  live  in  peace  and  love, 
Then  happy  be  in  heaven  above. 


l')2  GfiNEUAL   HISTORY. 

Those  who  are  familllar  with  the  contemporary  history  of 
the  county  cannot  fail  to  understand  the  allusions  of  the  last 
stanza.  The  whole  celebration  ended  with  a  barbecue.  A 
huge  bear  killed  that  morning  and  roasted  whole,  afforded 
the  entertainment. 

Mr.  Hollenback  was  prominent  in  many  of  the  enterprises 
of  the  neighborhood.  lie  died  in  Wyalusing  in  1867.  at  the 
age  of  ninety-one  years.  * 

In  1803  a  mail  route  was  opened  from  Wilkcs-Barro  to 
Tioga,  a  post-office  was  established  at  Wyalusing,  and  Mr 
Hollenback  was  appointed  postmaster.  Charles  Mowery  and 
Cyril  Peck  (the  first  husband  of  Urania  Stalford,)  carried  the 
mail  on  foot  once  in  two  weeks,  there  being  no  roads  adapted 
for  any  better  conveyance.  In  1810  Conrad  Teter  contracted 
to  carry  the  mail  in  coaches  once  a  week  from  Wilkes-Barrc  to 
Painted  Post,  via  Wyalusing  and  Tioga.  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  stage-coach  traveling  so  familiar  to  the  people  of  this 
valley  for  more  than  half  a  century.  About  the  time  Teter 
took  the  route  Major  Taylor  succeeded  Mr.  Hollenback  as 
postmaster. 

In  1799  on  account  of  troubles  existing  between  tlie  United 
States  and  France,  a  call  was  made  for  volunteers,  and  Mr. 
Hollenback  enlisted  as  2nd  Sergeant  in  the  company  of  Capt. 
Bowman  of  the  11th  United  States  Infantry  regiment,  and 
was  appointed  recruiting  officer.  He  succeeded  in  obtaining 
fourteen  recruits  at  Wyalusing"''  and  fifty-eight  at  Wysox  and 
Tioga  Point.  The  company  was  mustered  out  June  14,  1800, 
w  ithout  ever  being  called  into  active  military  service.  On  the 
28th  of  June,  1803,  a  man  named  John  Dalton,  living  on  the 
Wyalusing,  near  Merryall,  met  a   neighbor,  Amos  Hulburt,  a 

♦The  list  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  bo  as  to  identify  all  the  namos— t^iot-c  fhot  could 
hi'  if1«si>tified  as  belongina  to  Wyaliis  hk  a-ro  tliereforo  oiiiltif  d. 


r.E.NKllAL    IIISTUUY.  lOo 

son-in-law  of  Samuel  Gordon,  near  Town's  mill,  and  some 
words  passed  between  them,  when  DaltoH,  (who  was  returning 
from  a  field  where  he  had  been  hoeing  corn,)  struck  Ilulburt 
on  the  head  with  his  hoc,  with  such  force  as  to  fracture 
the  skull.  Ilulburt  died  on  the  5th  of  July.  Dalton  was  ar- 
rested and  committed  by  Guy  Wells  to  jail  at  Wilkes-Barre, 
where  he  was  indicted  for  voluntary  manslaughter  at  the  ses- 
sions of  court  held  August  10,  1803,  and  the  next  day  was 
convicted  of  murder  in  the  second  degree  and  on  the  19th 
sentenced  to  confinement  and  hard  labor  in  the  Penitentiary 
at  Philadelphia  for  eighteen  years.  In  1811  he  was  reprieved 
by  Gov.  McKean  but  died  soon  after.  This  w^as  the  first  high 
crime  committed  in  the  township. 

In  180-1  a  party  of  gentlemen  among  whom  was  Wilson  the 
ornothologist,  passed  up  the  North  Branch  valley  on  a  tour  of 
observation,  and  gave  a  rhyming  description  of  their  trip  which 
under  the  title  of  The  Foresters,  was  published  in  the  Port- 
folio, of  Philadelphia,   a  monthly  of  considerable  importance 
as  a  literary  paper,   of  which  the  following  extract  describes 
Wyalusing  as  it  appeared  nine  or  ten  years  after  the  Duke  Do 
la  Rochfoucault  traveled  through  here.     The  narrator  says  ; 
"jThe  morning  dawned,  again  we  took  the  road, 
Each  musqnet  shouldered  o'er  the  lightened  load  ; 
Through  Wihaloosing's  jolains  we  gail/y  pass 
Midst  matted  fields  of  rank  luxuriant  grass. 
Here,  nature  bounteous  to  excess  has  been, 
Yet  loitering  hunters  scarce  a  living  glea»,'t- 
Blest  with  a  soil,  that  e'en  in  winter  gay, 
Would  all  their  toils  a  hundred  fold  repay  ; 
Few  cultured  fields  of  yellow  grain  appear  ; 
Rich  fenceless  pastures  -aot  unheeded  here. 
Huge  from  the  vale  the  towering  walnuts'^  grow 
And  -wave  o'er  wretched  huts  that  lie  below. 
No  blosoming  orchards  scent  the  opening  May, 
No  bleating  flocks  upon  their  pastures  play." 

♦Theee  have  now  nearly  all  disappeared.    Among  the  iMt  were  thoie  cut  for  the  lumber 
to  finish  the  interior  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


104  GEXEKAL   HISTORY. 

Several  times  in  the  course  of  this  narrative,  allusion  has 
been  made  to  the  dispute  between  the  States  of  Connecticut 
and  Pennsylvania  about  the  title  to  the  soil  and  jurisdiction  of 
the  valley  of  the  North  Branch.  This  dispute  was  referred 
to  Congress,  who  appointed  a  committee  to  decide  the  question, 
which  was  done  at  Trenton,  Dec.  30,  1782,  giving  to  Pennsyl- 
vania the  right  of  jurisdiction  and  pre-emption  to  the  disputed 
territory.  This  decree  as  it  was  called,  was  variously  inter- 
preted by  the  contending  parties,  Pennsylvania  liolding  that  by 
it  she  was  put  into  such  complete  possession  of  the  tract,  that 
before  the  Connecticut  settlers  could  have  any  claim  to  the 
land  they  must  obtain  title  through  her ;  the  Susquehanna 
company  claiming  that  wliile  the  jurisdiction  was  given  to 
Pennsylvania,  it  did  not  affect  the  title  hy  which  the  land  was 
held  hy  its  i^resent  occupants,  that  the  transfer  of  territory 
from  one  State  to  another  did  not  affect  the  rights,  title,  nor 
interests  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  territory.  The  result  was 
that  for  twenty  years  after  the  Decree  of  Trenton,  the  whole 
Susquehanna  valley  was  in  a  constant  ferment  over  the  ques- 
tions which  grew  out  of  this  controversy.  What  made  mat- 
ters still  worse,  the  Commonwealth  seemed  to  have  no  fixed 
policy  for  dealing  with  the  subject.  Sometimes  the  attempt 
was  made  to  coerce  the  settlers  to  purchase  the  Pennsylvania 
title  or  leave  the  territory,  at  other  times  more  conciliatory 
measures  would  be  adopted,  which  the  settlers  fearing  were 
intended  to  entrap  them,  generally  refused  to  accede  to.  At 
length  in  1799  the  Compromising  law,  as  it  was  called,  was 
passed,  which  provided  that  in  seventeen  townships,  according 
to  the  Survey  of  Susquehanna  Company,  titles  granted  by 
that  company  and  occupied  previous  to  the  Trenton  decree, 
should  be  accounted  valid  on  the  occupant  paying  a  small  feo 
to  the  State,  while  the  Pennsylvania  claimant  was  to  receive 
a  certain  compensation   in  case  he   released  his  claim  to  the 


(iENEUAL    lliSTOllY.  10 '> 

Commonwealth.  Under  this  act  commii^sioners  Avere  appoint- 
ed, who  caused  the  lands  in  these  townships  to  he  resurvcyed, 
examined  claims,  appraised  the  valuation  and  confirmed  the 
titles  to  the  settlers.  The  commissioners  began  their  work  in 
Springfield  in  July,  1803,  but  all  the  claims  were  not  arranged 
before  1808.  They  confirmed  under  Connecticut  title  thirty 
shares  and  under  Pennsylvania  title  four  shares,  taken  previ- 
ous to  December  30,  1782.*  It  is  now  impossible  to  trace  the 
chain  of  title  from  the  occupants  in  1808  back  to  the  original 
proprietors.  As  the  certificate  from  the  committee  was  re- 
garded as  amply  sufficient  without  the  Connecticut  title,  the 
latter  has  in  most  instances  been  lost.  Thus  after  nearly 
thirty  years  was  this  unhappy  controversy  brought  to  an  end. 

In  1805  Jonathan  Stevens  moved  into  Wyalusing,  where 
he  remained  for  some  time  keeping  a  small  store  and  tavern  in 
a  house  which  stood  near  where  Mrs.  Welles  now  lives,  known 
as  the  Peter  Stevens  house  and  built  by  Guy  Wells.  The 
Stevens  family  were  of  English  descent.  Having  taken  part 
in  the  Revolution  by  which  Charles  I  was  brought  to  the 
block,  on  the  restoration  of  the  kingdom  to  Charles  II,  they 
fled  to  New  England,  their  property  being  confiscated  and 
their  lives  threatened.  Asa  Stevens,  the  father  of  Jonathan, 
was  born  in  Plainfield,  Conn.,  May,  1734,  and  was  among  the 
first  emigrants  into  the  Wyoming  valley,  where  he  held  several 
oflSces.  He  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  army  at  the  time  of  the 
Indian  battle  and  was  killed  in  that  fatal  engagement.  Jona- 
than, his  second  son,  was  born  at  Canterbury,  Conn.,  July, 
17G4,  consequently  was  fourteen  years  of  age  at  his  father's 


•^The  share-holdtra  were  Josepli  Ingbaui,  2  ;  Juetua  Gaylord,  3;  Joshua  Keeuey,  2;  — 
Keener,  1;  Henry  Elsworth.  3;  Samuel  Gibson,  2;  M.  HoUenback,  8:  Thomas  Wigton,  2: 
Eleazer  Blackman,  2;  Lucretia  York,  2;  Township  Committee,  3;  Anderson  Dana,  .'-;  Jno. 
Taylor,  1-6;  Humphrey  Brown,  '.i ;  —  under  Pa.,  heirs  of  Henry  Pawling,  3.  The  com- 
missioners were  Tboma*  Cooper,  John  AI.  Taylor,  and  Alexander  Scott.  The  surveyor. 
Ocorg9  Haioee- 


lOG  GENERAL   UISTORY. 

death.     The  family,  with  the  other  fugitives,  went  back  to 
Connecticut  after  the  battle.     When  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
enlisted  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  where   he  served  for 
three  years,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.     In  October, 
1785,  he  m?/rried  Eleanor  Adams  of  Brooklyn.     He  went  to 
Wilkes-Barre  between  the  years  1787  and  1790,  and  in  1795 
he  moved  to  Braintrim  where  he  lived  for  ten  years,  working 
a  small  farm  for  part  of  the  time,  and  the  rest  working  at  his 
trade — that  of  a  tailor.    In  1805  he  came  to  Wyalusing  where 
he  lived  until  1812  when  he  went  to  Standing  Stone,  where  he 
died  June,  1850.     About  the  year  1800  he  was  appointed  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  held  the  office  for  several  years.      In 
1811  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  the  Commonwealth 
and  served  for  one  term.     On  the  22d  of  May,  1818,  he  was 
appointed  by  Gov.  Findley,  one  of  the   associate  judges  of 
Bradford  county  and  went  out  of  office  with  the  change  in  the 
State  constitution  in  1840.     He  was  also  for  many  years  dep- 
uty and  county  surveyor,  having  received  the  appointment  in 
1814,  and  agent  for  many  dealers  in  lands  in  this  part  of  the 
county.     In  the  discharge  of  these  duties  he  surveyed  almost 
every  tract  of  land  within  ten  or  fifteen  miles  of  each  side  of 
the  river  through  the  whole  of  this   and  adjoining  counties. 
The  various  offices  to  which  he  was  elected,  and  the  responsi- 
ble trusts  he  held  are  the  best  evidences  of  his  integrity,  good 
judgment,  and  ability,  which  could  be  mentioned. 

Notwithstanding  all  of  the  difficulties  with  which  the  set- 
tlers had  to  contend,  and  the  perplexing  controversies  which 
retarded  their  prosperity,  the  township  gradually  increased  in 
population  and  a  very  marked  improvement  was  made  in  the 
extent  and  character  of  the  buildings  and  cultivation  during 
the  period  embraced  in  this  chapter.  Roads  were  cut  through 
and  made  passable,  mail   facilities  were  enjoyed,   schools  and 


GENERAL    HISTORY.  107 

churches  were  maintainetl,  and  the  hardy  but  enterprising 
people  were  gradually  increasing  in  wealth,  and  in  the  com- 
forts of  life.  Numerous  saw-mills  were  built  and  the  lumber 
cut  at  them  was  sent  in  rafts  to  the  markets  below,  and  by 
this  means  money  was  obtained  by  which  exchanges  were  facil- 
itated and  improvements  were  carried  on,  and  the  people  were 
usually  prosperous  and  happy. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  county  of  Luzerne,  whose 
courts  were  held  at  Wilkes-Barre,  included  at  this  time  nearly 
all  of  Bradford.  The  people  of  this  region  being  so  far  re- 
moved from  the  county  seat,  the  country  sparsely  settled,  and 
the  roads  for  much  of  the  time  almost  impassable,  felt  them- 
selves well  nigh  beyond  the  protection  or  the  restraint  of  the 
law.  In  cases  of  litigation  the  decision  of  the  justice  was  in 
most  instances  final,  the  aggrieved  party  preferring  to  suffer, 
rather  than  be  at  the  expense  and  trouble  of  taking  his  case 
to  a  higher  tribunal.  In  these  justices'  courts  business  was 
often  conducted  with  great  irregularity,  and  many  transgres- 
sions of  the  law  were  suffered  to  pass  unnoticed.  In  a  letter 
written  to  H.  V.  Champin,  a  justice  of  Braintrim,  by  James 
Sutton,  dated  Dec.  15,  1809,  he  expresses  the  opinion  that 
much  of  the  evil  and  lawlessness  in  the  community  was  owinir 
to  the  failure  of  the  justices  to  enforce  the  laws.  In  view  of 
these  difficulties  a  "meeting  of  the  justices  in  the  northern 
p;irt  of  Luzerne  was  held  at  the  house  of  Jonathan  Stevens, 
at  Wyalusing,  Feb.  8,  1810,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  so- 
ciety, and  fixing'on  certain  precedents  to  govern  said  society." 
At  ^this  meeting  they  passed  resolutions  discountenancing 
*'  pettifoging,"  discouraging  lawsuits,  &c.  Several  questions 
arrising  out  of  the  procedure  in  justices'  courts  were  also  dis- 
cussed, and  one  of  the  standing  rules  of  the  society  was  that 
each  member  of  the  association  should  present  one  "  law  ques- 


i08  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

tion  "  for  discussion  at  each  meeting.  The  second  meeting 
was  held  at  the  house  of  Major  Gaylord,  when  a  constitution 
was  adopted,  and  officers  were  chosen.  Among  the  require- 
ments in  this  article  of  its  members  were  "  to  use  every  pre- 
caution to  suppress  law  suits,  and  to  bring  about  a  reconcilia- 
tion between  the  parties — to  reprove  persons  of  immoral  char- 
acters of  every  description  and  by  all  proper  means  to  sup- 
press every  species  of  vice  and  immorality."  The  paper  is  too 
long  for  insertion  here,  but  it  is  instructive  to  observe  the  ef- 
forts made  by  the  conservators  of  the  peace  to  promote  the  best 
interests  of  the  people.  The  names  signed  to  the  constitution 
are  Henry  V.  Champin,  Josiah  Fassett,  Issaar  Brownson,  Guy 
Wells,  Salmon  Bosworth,  Parley  Coburn,  William  Myer,  Geo. 
Scott,  and  Eliphalet  Mason. 

Mr.  Champin  was  elected  presidpnt,  and  Geo.  Scott,  secre- 
tary. The  third  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Myer, 
and  the  two  next  at  Wyalusing.  After  this  there  were  no  re- 
cords of  the  society,  and  it  is  believed  the  association  ceased 
to  exist  with  the  changes  that  grew  out  of  the  organization  of 
the  new  county,  the  necessity  of  which  now  became  apparent 
to  all. 


CHAPTER    V. 

From  the  Oruaxization  of  Bradford  County  until  the 
PRESENT.     1812-1870. 

Bradford  county  was  taken  from  parts  of  Luzerne  and  Ly- 
coming, February  21,  1810,  and  received  the  name  of  Ontario; 
March  24,  1812,  the  name  was  changed  to  Bradford,  the 
county  organized  and  the  first  courts  held  in  Towanda  in  the 
January  following.  Wval using  which  was  one  of  the  ten 
original  townships  of  the  county,  included  the  present 
townships  of  Tuscarora,  Herrick,  V\^ilmot,  Terry,  Overton, 
Asylum,  with  parts  of  Albany  and  Standing  Stone.  As  then 
constituted  the  tov.n.ships  contained  71  voters,  and  the  elec- 
tions held  at  the  house  of 'Major  Gaylord,  and  127  taxable? 
with  a  valuati')n  o!"  So4;194-  on  personal  estate  and  seated 
lands  and  on  un^o;Jto  1  lands  of  3105.273.  In  1814  that  por- 
tion of  the  township  west  of  the  river  was  constituted  into  a 
separate  township  under  the  name  of  Asylum.  In  1830  Tus- 
carora  was  set  off  and  the  township  was  reduced  to  its  present 
size  (about  one  twenty-fifth  of  its  original  territory)  in  1837 
by  the  cutting  of^*  of  Ilerrick.  In  the  organization  of  the 
county  Major  Gaylord  was  one  of  the  first  commissioners,  Jno. 
Banister  Gibson,  president  judge,  and  Charles  F.  "Welles,  pro- 
thonotary,  regif^ter,  recorder,  and  clerk  of  the  court.  Mr. 
Welles  held  th.is  office  for  six  years.  Burr  Ridgway,  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Bradford  Gazette,  the  first  paper  published  in 
the  county,  wa^liis  deputy. 

Mr.  "Welles  was  borji  in  Glastonbury,  Ct.,  Nov.  5,  1789,  and 
the  family  were  au:ong  the  early  settlers  of  Athens.  In  1810, 
he  married  Miss  Mien  J.,  daughter  of  Judge  HoUenback,  and 
removed  to  Wynlusing  in  1822,  where  he  died  Sept.  23, 1860. 


110  UENEUAl.   HISTORY. 

Mr.  Welles  was  a  man  of  varied  and  extensive  reading,  and 
probably  know  more  of  the  history  of  the  county,  of  its  re- 
sources and  men,  than  any  other  man  of  his  day.  He  wield- 
ed a  busy  pen  and  contributed  for  the  press  some  of  the  best 
poetic  articles  which  were  published.*  Though  never  a  poli- 
tician in  the  sense  of  aspiring  for  oflSce,  he  took  a  deep  inter- 
est in  political  questions.  In  early  life  he  espoused  the  prin- 
ciples advocated  by  Jeiferson ;  later  he  became  an  admirer  of 
Henry  Clay,  and  a  defender  of  his  policy.  During  his  ten 
years'  residence  in  Towanda  he  exerted  a  well  nigh  controlling 
influence  in  the  politics  of  the  county.  His  articles  on  polit- 
ical questions,  written  at  this  time,  were  marked  by  a  breadth 
of  view,  and  urged  by  a  cogency  of  reasoning  that  carried 
conviction  to  the  mind  of  the  reader,  while  the  corrupt  poli- 
tician received  scathing  rebukes  from  his  trenchant  pen. 

Judge  Hollenback,  with  characteristic  forethought,  had  in- 
vested largely  in  lands  in  the  county,  and  on  the  removal  of 
Mr.  Welles  to  Wyalusing,  he  found  abundant  employment  in 
superintending  their  management,  in  addition  to  the  business 
growing  out  of  his  own  affairs.  As  a  man  of  business  he  was 
punctual,  ready,  accuiate,  of  unquestioned  integrity,  possess- 
ing a  generous  heart  and  a  kindly  feeling  for  the  distressed. 
The  tenants  upon  his  farm,  or  the  people  in  his  employ,  ever 
found  him  liberal  in  his  demands  and  unexacting  in  its  require- 
ments. Though  engaged  in  extended  and  frequently  har- 
assing business,  his  interest  in  public  matters  continued  un- 
abated ;  and  it  is  believed  that  until  within  the  last  year  of  his 
life,  he  never  missed  attendance  upon  a  single  term  of  court 
held  at  Towanda. 


*A  gentleman  engage  1  for  many  years  ae  an  eel. tor  ol  a  Ktorary  iiajjer,  who  only  new 
Mr,  Welles  throuKli  bis  publiMheil  artiiltri,  once  obsriveil.  •' That  Charles  F.  Welles  bad 
written  some  or  the  t  n.^tt  iii<(f«  dj  uigitiVe  jjcetry  tl.ut  liail  ever  been  prodnced  hi  tliiii 
oountry,  in  his  lUy." 


(JENERAL    HISTORT.  Ill 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  rebellion  his  whole  heart 
was  enlisted  on  the  side  of  the  government,  which  he  aided  in 
every  way  in  his  power,  and  the  hearty  God  speed  with  which 
he  bade  the  company  raised  in  this  vicinity,  go  fight  the  bat- 
tles of  their  country,  will  ever  be  remembered  by  those  who 
witnessed  it. 

In  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  spent  much  time  in  read- 
ing on  subjects  of  natural  history,  especially  geology,  in 
which  he  kept  fairly  abreast,  and  was  thoroughly  conversant 
with  the  theories  of  the  leading  writers  in  this  favorite  depart- 
ment of  his  study. 

He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  public  enterprises  of  the 
place.  On  the  completion  of  the  North  Branch  canal,  a  basin 
was  excavated  and  a  commodious  warehouse  and  coal  bins 
were  constructed,  which,  through  the  facilities  for  business 
thus  afforded,  have  been  the  means  of  doing  more  than  any 
other  one  thing  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  surrounding 
country  and  make  Wyalusing  the  centre  of  a  large  and  rapid- 
ly increasing  trade. 

In  1821  under  the  direction  of  John  Hollenback,  the  grist 
mill  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek  was  built,  which  from  its  supe- 
rior construction  and  favorable  location  was  of  great  advan- 
tage to  the  surrounding  country. 

In  1837,  Dr  D.  C.  Scovill  settled  in  Wyalusing,  and  was 
the  first  permanently^  located  physician.  As  early  as  1795, 
Dr.  Jabez  Chamberlin  settled  at  Fairbanks,  where  he  remain- 
ed for  a  short  time,  then  went  to  New  York  for  a  while,  and 
afterward  returned  to  Wyalusing  where  he  died.  Several 
physicians  were  here  for  a  short  time,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  Dr.  Sharts,  Daniel  Scofield,  and  Dr.  Tewksbury. 
Dr.  Heyden  who  rode  through  all  this  section  of  the  country 
had  his  share  of  patients  in  Wyalusing.     After  him  for  sever- 


112  GENERAL   HlSTUllV. 

al  years  the'pcople"',!werc^dependeiitmaiuly  on  Dr.  Crandall 
and  Dr.  Horton,  the  former  having  lived  in  Wyalusing  several 
years  and  then  removed  to  Stevensvillc,  and  the  latter  having 
settled  at  Terry  town.  Dr.  Scovill  has  for  a  third  of  a  century 
sustained  a  large  practice,^'and  still  bids  fair  to  endure  for 
many  more  years  the  arduous  labor  \s-hich  a  physician  here  is 
compelled  to  undergo. 

In  1818,  Elizur  Price,  son  of  Zaclmnah  Pnce  one  of  the 
first  members  of  the  old  church,  organized  a  sabbath  school  in 
Wyalusing.  It  had  been  customary  for  the  minister  to  gather 
the  members  of  the  congregation  on  the  sabbath,  between  the 
services,  for  the  study  of  the  scriptures  and  for  the  discussion 
of  difficult  questions  in  theology  ;  but  the  enterprise  of  Mr. 
Price  was  the  first  attempt  to  organize  a  sabbath  school  on  a 
plan  analogous  to  the  present  methods,  Avhich  has  become  so 
prevalent  in  all  religious  societies.  The  school  then  commen- 
ced, has  continued  with  but  few  interruption?,  until  the  present 
time,'when  there  are  at  least  five  such  scnools  in  the  township. 

In  1854  a  charter  was  granted  for  the  formation  of  the  sg- 
ciety  of  the  2nd  Presbyterian  church  at  Wyalusing.  The 
present  building  was  commenced  soon  after,  and  completed  the 
following  year  at  a  cost  of  about  $4000.  As  early  as  1792 
itinerants  of  the  Methodist  church  had  visited  the  settlement, 
held  meetings  and  considerable  religious  interest  had  been 
awakened,  but  it  soon  abated  and  was  not  reviewed  until  some 
years  after. 

The  following  sketch,  furnished  ly  Kc- .  '  B.  Sumner,  late 
pastor  of  Methodist  church  at  Wyaluoiug,  jrivv'S  the  history  of 
this  denomination  in  the  valley.  Ivi  178'>i  ;•  Methodist  class 
was  formed  at  Ross  Hill,  near  Kingston,  by  a  pious  blacksmith 
named  Anning  Owen.  This  was  the  beginning  of  Methodism 
in  this  section  of  the  country.     Three  years  after  they  were 


fJENEKAL   HlSTOllV.  113 

recognized  by  Conference,  and  Nathaniel  13.  Mills  was  sent  as 
their  first  preacher.  In  1793,  Tioga  circuit  was  formed,  ex- 
tending from  Wyalusing  to  Chemung,  with  "Wm.  Colbert  as 
preacher  in  charge.  Wyalusing  continued  to  form  a  part  of 
Tioga  circuit  until  1814,  when  the  Wyalusing  circuit  was  or- 
ganized. This  circuit  embraced  Owego,  Nichols,  Barton, 
Waverly,  Factoryville,  Athens,  Litchfield,  Apolachan,  Rome, 
Windham,  Orwell,  Skinner's  Eddy,  and  Wyalusing.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  preachers  on  this  charge  for  the  first 
ten  years:  1814,  Rinaldo  M.  Erarts  ;  1815,  Elisha  Bibbins  ; 
1816-17,  John  Griffing ;  1818,  Elijah  King ;  1819,  Elisha 
Bibbins;  1820,  E.  Doolittle  and  H.  G.  Warner;  1821,  Asa 
Cummins  and  John  Sayer;  1822-23,  John  Griffing  and  James 
Hodge;  1824,  John  Griffing,  Caleb  Kendall,  and  Ptiilo  Bar- 
bary. 

Wyalusing  and  Spencer  circuitB  were  this  year  united  and 
employed  three  men.  During  the  next  fifteen  years  the  cir- 
cuit was  divided,  trimmed  up,  and  lopped  ofi",  until  its  identity 
was  lost,  leaving  not  even  so  much  as  its  name,  and  for  sever- 
al years  seems  to  have  been  abandoned  by  the  Methodists, 
In  1840  we  find  Wyalusing  included  in  the  Skinner's  Eddy 
charge,  but  without  regular  preaching  until  the  winter  of 
1842-3.  H.  Brownscombe  reorganized  the  class  and  it  was 
entered  upon  the  records  as  "  Browntown  and  Wyalusing 
classes."  It  consisted  of  twenty-nine  members,  eleven  of 
whom  resided  at  Wyalusing,  and  four  of  the  eleven  were  soon 
transferred  to  Asylum.  In  1854  the  class  consisted  of  eight 
members,  in  1861  of  thirteen,  in  1867  of  thirty-five,  and  in 
1870  of  fifty-six. 

In  1854  a  modest  appearing  brick  edifice  34x50  without  a 
steeple,  was  erected  for  the  use  of  the  congregation  at  a  cost 
of  ^1800.      It  was  dedicated  by  Geo.  Peck,  D.D.  in  Septem- 


114  GENERAL   UISTOUY. 

bcr  of  the  same  year.  Services  are  conducted  at  the  church 
every  Sunday  morning,  and  the  class  was  never  more  numer- 
ous than  it  is  now.  The  followino;  is  the  list  of  PresidinG:;  El- 
ders  since  1805  when  Wyalusing  was  embraced  in  Tioga  cir- 
cuit, Susquehanna  district :  1805-8,  Anning  Owen.  1808-9, 
James  Herron.  1809-12,  Gideon  Draper.  1812-15,  George 
Harmon.  1815-19,  Marmaduke  Pierce.  (Wyalusing  circuit 
formed  in  1814).  1819-23,  Goo,  Law.  1823-4,  Fitch  Reed. 
1824-7,  Geo.  Peck.  1827-34,  Horace  Agard.  During  the 
next  six  years  I  am  unable  to  give  the  names  of  the  Presiding 
Elders — Wyalusing  seems  to  have  belonged  nowhere.  1840-6 
David  Holmes,  Jr.,  (Wyalusing  and  Skinner's  Eddy  charge). 
1846-50,  Wm.  Reddy.  1860-4,  D.  A.  Shcpard.  (Wyalusing 
circuit  reorganized  in  1851.)  1854-5,  Geo.  Peck.  1855-9, 
Geo.  Landon.  (Wyalusing  district  formed  in  1855.)  1859-63, 
G.  H.  Blakesley.  1863-4,  T.  H.  Brownscombe.  1867  to  the 
present,  DeWitt  C.  Olmstead.  Since  1842  Wyalusing  has 
been  regularly  served  by  the  following  preachers :  H.  Browns- 
combe, P.  G.  White,  C.  E.  Taylor  and  J.  W.  Davison,  C.  E. 
Taylor  and  J.  D.  Safford,  E.  Owen  and  J.  B.  Cooper,  E.  B. 
Tenny,  George  Landon,  F.  S.  Chubbuck,  Thomas  Wilcox, 
George  Landon,  Geo.  W.  Jackson,  0.  F.  Morse,  L.  Peck,  (2 
years),  S.  F.  Brown,  Edgar  Libby,  J.  C.  Barnes,  George  Lan- 
don and  J.  0.  Barnes,  J.  D.  Warren,  I.  P.  Towner,  (2  years), 
S.  F.  Brown,  (3  years),  A.  F.  Harding,  A.  J.  Arnold,  (2  years) 
P.  R  Tower  and  J,  B.  Sumner,  P.  R.  Tower  and  G.  Chamber- 
lain, the  present  preachers.  On  the  charge  there  are  at  this 
time  the  stations  at  Wyalusing,  Spring  Hill,  Camptown  and 
Herrick.  In  addition  to  these  and  the  two  Presbyterian 
churches,  there  is  also  regular  service  at  Camptown,  by  Rev. 
Wm.  Heaton,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  where  a  re- 
spectable congregation  has  been  gathered. 


r.EXERA],    IIISTOUY.  11.*) 

In  1857  the  Nortli  Branch  Canal  having  been  completed, 
business  became  much  more  active  all  through  this  valley.  Be- 
fore this  the  nearest  points  to  the  great  thoroughfares,  were 
either  Montrose  station,  on  the  D.  L.  k  W.  R.  R.,  Waverlj, 
on  the  E.  R.,  or  Canton  and  Troy,  on  the  E.  k  W.  R.  R.— 
the  distance  to  either  of  these  points  being  about  40  miles. 
When  the  river  was  free  from  ice,  large  quantities  of  lumber 
in  rafts ;  hay,  grain,  potatoes  and  other  agricultural  produce 
in  boats,  were  sent  to  the  markets  below,  while  salt,  lime  and 
plaster  were  brought  down  from  the  north.  This  means  of 
transportation,  though  cheap,  was  attended  with  considerable 
risk,  and  often  was  available  only  when  the  markets  were  un- 
favorable to  the  producer  ;  and  then  products  could  be  brought 
up  the  river  only  at  great  expense.  The  canal  afforded  a 
cheap  and  safe  means  of  transportation  for  about  seven  or 
eight  months  in  the  year,  and  with  its  connections  largely  ex- 
tended the  market  for  the  producer.  The  good  effects  of  this 
were  at  once  seen  in  the  healthy  stimulus  given  to  trade,  and 
in  the  rapid  developement  of  the  country  ;  the  price  of  exports 
was  increased,  and  tliat  of  imports  diminished.  From  this 
time  trade  began  rapidly  to  center  at  Wyalusing,  and  all 
branches  of  industry  were  carried  on  witli  profit. 

The  people  of  Wyalusing  have  always  given  much  atten- 
tion to  the  subject  of  education.  With  the  growth  of  the 
country  there  has  been  a  growing  interest  in  this  important 
subject.  Instead  of  the  one  school  that  was  taught  by  Uriah 
Terry  in  the  little  log  school-house,  there  are  now  twelve 
schools  in  the  township,  with  comfortable  buildings,  in  which 
schools  are  maintained  for  six  months  in  the  year,  at  an  ex- 
pense of  more  than  $1000,  and  where  seven  hundred  pupils 
receive  instruction  in  the  common  English  branches.  In 
addition  to  the.^e  Rev.  S.  F,  Colt,  while  pastor  of  the-MaryTrr — 


110  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

Church,  opened  a  large  private  school  in  his  own  kouse,  which 
was  continued  for  many  years  under  very  favorable  circum- 
stances. Previous  to  the  erection  of  the  Susquehanna  Colle- 
giate Institute,  Wyalusing  was  a  very  formidable  rival  of 
Towanda  for  the  location  of  the  school ;  in  fact  the  site  was 
selected,  a  well  was  dug,  brick  were  burned,  and  money  sub- 
scribed for  the  erection  of  the  building.  But  on  the  advice 
of  some  prominent  friends  of  education,  the  subscribers  gen- 
erously allowed  the  Institute  to  be  transferred  to  Towanda, 
which  being  the  county  seat  and  more  accessible,  was  thought 
to  afford  peculiar  advantages  of  location  for  such  an  institu- 
tion. For  several  years  after  there  were  none  but  the  public 
schools  in  the  township.  Although  these  were  of  higher  grade 
than  such  schools  ordinarily  are,  they  did  not  meet  the  wants 
of  the  community,  and  the  subject  of  better  advantages  for 
education  was  frequently  discussed  in  different  parts  of  the 
township. 

November  8,  1859,  the  Academy  Association  at  "Wyalusing 
was  incorporated,  and  the  building  was  commenced  which  was 
completed  in  1860  at  a  cost  of  more  than  ^3000,  and  Miss 
L.  A.  Chamberlain  opened  the  school  there  the  same  year. 
It  is  a  fine  building,  two  stories  in  height,  surmounted  by  a 
cupola,  containing  on  the  first  floor  two  large  school  rooms, 
one  of  which  is  used  for  the  public  school  and  the  other  neatly 
fitted  up  with  the  Boston  school  furniture  for  the  academy 
proper.  The  upper  story  is  a  large  room  comfortably  seated 
and  used  for  the  present  as  a  public  liall.  About  the  same 
time  another  building  was  erected  at  Camptown,  a  pleasant 
villiage  five  miles  up  the  Wyalusing,  and  within  the  township, 
for  the  same  purpose,  though  of  smaller  dimensions,  consist- 
ing of  two  rooms,  one  in  each  story,  the  lower  one  being  used 
for  the  academy  and  the   upper    one    for    a    hall,  at    present 


GENERAL   HISTORY.  117 

occupied  by  the  Good  Templars  and  Odd  Fellows.  The 
school  was  opened  by  Mr.  A.  A.  Kinney,  the  present  County 
Superintendent  of  common  schools.  In  both  of  these  build- 
ino^s  schools  have  been  maintained  in  which,  in  addition  to  the 
common  English  branches,  higher  mathematics,  classics,  and 
normal  departments  have  been  opened  and  successfully 
taught. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  the  people  of  Wyalu- 
sing  were  not  unmindful  of  their  duty  to  the  government,  but 
contributed  largely  in  men  and  money  for  its  defence.  To 
every  call  for  volunteers,  either  for  the  State  or  national  ser- 
vice, she  nobly  responded,  and  her  sons  did  gallant  service  in 
the  field  of  conflict.*  Their  services  deserve  and  will  receive 
a  more  extended  account  than  can  here  be  given. 

In  1869  the  extension  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad,  con- 
necting Pittston  with  Waverly,  was  completed  and  the  first 
train  of  cars  passed  over  the  line  on  the  9th  of  September. 
On  the  13th  of  the  same  month  the  trains  commenced  making 
their  regular  trips.  The  effect  of  this  increased  facility  for 
travel  and  transportation  was  at  once  visible  in  the  increase 
of  business  which  gathered  here,  and  now  bids  fair  to  make 
Wyalusing  one  of  the  most  important  stations  on  the  road. 

The  reunion  of  the  two  great  branches  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  the  United  States  which  was  consummated  in  18G9, 
was  succeeded  by  a  complete  reorganization  of  the  Synods 
and  Presbyteries  under  its  jurisdiction.  The  churches  of 
Wyalusing  under  this  reconstruction,  were  embraced  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Lackawanna.  This  body  held  its  first  stated 
meeting  at  Wyalusing,  September  20,  1870,  and  was  one  of 
the  most  important  gatherings  ever  assembled  here.  It 
seemed  appropriate  that  the    first  meeting   of  the  new  Pres- 


•  Sw  Appandit. 


118  GEN-KRAL   HISTOllV. 

bytery  should  be  held  on  the  very  spot  where  the  first  Pres- 
byterian church  was  organized  within  its  bounds,  and  that  its 
reunion  should  be  celebrated  on  the  place  consecrated  by 
such  holy  memories. 

Wyalusing,  as  at  present  constituted,  lies  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Susquehanna,  and  on  both  sides  of  the  Wyalusing 
creek,  up  which  it  extends  about  eight  miles,  while  its  river 
border  is  about  twelve  miles ;  the  whole  township  embracing 
about  twenty-three  square  miles  with  a  population  of  1693 
souls.  At  the  last  election  (October,  1870,)  the  whole  num- 
ber of  votes  cast  was  377,  and  at  the  presidential  election  in 
1868  the  number  was  346.  Its'politics  have  always  been  pre- 
dominantly Republican  since  1856.  In  1870  the  number  of 
taxables  was  440,  and  the  valuation  of  personal  property 
P7,590,  of  real  estate  $200,698,  making  a  total  of  §238,288, 
so  that  in  the  last  seventy  years  the  number  of  taxables  has 
increased  eleven  fold,  and  the  valuation  thirty  fold. 

There  are  at  present  in  the  township  two  villages ;  one, 
Wyalusing,  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  the  other,  Campto^n, 
five  miles  above  ;  three  churches,  two  academies,  and  eight 
stores.  Although  an  agricultural  community,  yet  the  various 
mechanical  arts  are  well  represented  and  the  township  is  rap- 
idly increasing  in  wealth  awd  population. 


The  praperation  of  the  foregoing  pages,  though  made  in  the 
midst  of  other  and  pressing  duties,  has  been  to  the  author  a 
labor  of  love,  and  it  is  with  no  little  hesitation  that  they  are 
submitted  to  the  public.  The  first  attempt  at  preparing  a 
local  history    is  olways    made  under  peculiar   disadvantages. 


fiUNKUAL    UlSTOUY.  IT-' 

The  writer  has  sought  for  facts,  and  has  compressed  in  this 
paper  the  results  of  several  years  investigation,  and  of  research 
wherever  he  has  had  reason  to  think  valuable  material  could 
be  found.  He  hopes  it  may  be  the  means  of  correcting  inac- 
curacies, if  he  has  made  them,  and  of  bringing  to  light  impor- 
tant documents,  if  any  exist,  which  have  been  overlooked. 
The  history  of  any  locality  is  the  history  of  the  men  who  have 
lived  in  it,  and  this  has  made  it  necessary  to  introduce  several 
biographical  sketches,  which  have  been  taken  either  from 
family  records  or  other  authentic  sources. 

It  is  but  fair  to  say  that  the  idea  of  writing  a  history  of 
the  township  was  a  recent  one.  The  discourse  had  been 
prepared,  and  was  nearly  printed  when  it  was  thought  best 
to  put  the  paper  in  its  present  form.  The  work  of  printing 
was  therefore  for  a  time  suspended,  now  investigations  were 
undertaken,  the  whole  plan  of  the  work  was  recast,  and  the 
result  is  before  the  reader.  In  consequence  of  this  some 
repetition  was  necessary,  and  at  the  same  time  in  a  few 
places  the  biographical  sketches  have  been  broken  up  into 
fragments.  No  one  can  be  more  sensible  of  these  defect? 
than  the  author,  but  with  all  these  he  hopes  his  efforts  will  be 
the  means  of  preserving  important  fiicts  which  otherwise  would 
have  been  lost,  and  provoking  some  abler  pen  to  tell  the  story 
in  the  way  which  it  deserves. 

While  the  work  has  been  going  through  the  press  one  or 
two  mistakes  have  been  discovered  : 

The  name  of  Mr.  Benjamin  of  whom  Major  Gaylord  bought 
a  part  of  his  property  was  Richard  instead  of  Judah  as  was 
there  given — he  and  Mr.  Akly  were  sons-in-law  of  Mr. 
Bennet  and  went  with  him  to  Durell  creek,  where  their 
descendents  now  live.     The  storv  that"  is  told  of  an  old  Indian 


120  (JENEllAL   HLSXORY. 

woman  iuforming  Mrs.  Brown  that  there  would  be  trouble  in 
the  valley,  should  have  been  Mrs.  Wigton,  who  at  that  time 
lived  near  Tunkhannock.  The  information  was  gathered 
from  a  grandson  of  both  Mrs.  Brown  and  Mrs.  Wigton, 
which  led  to  the  confusion. 


APPENDIX. 


In  am  indebted  to  the  liev.  W.  C.  lleichel,  of  Bethlehem, 
Pa.,  a  gentleman  versed  in  the  Delaware  names  for  the 
following : 

Wyalusing  is  written  variously  in  the  old  records,^thus  : 
Machachlosung,  Quihaloosing,  Mockocklocking,  Monmuch- 
looson,  Mach«»ihilu3ing,  abbreviated  into  Ch'wihilusing,  and 
then  into  Wihilusing.  The  last  three  are  doubtless  correct, 
and  the  changes  natural.  I  propose  the  the  following  analysis 
for  Mach-wi-hi-lu-sing : 

Macheu  signifies  large — see  Zeisbergers' vocables  "as  cor- 
rected in  his  spelling  book.  Mi-7d-lii-si8,  an  old  man,  {ibid) 
ing  or  ink,  the  suffix  of  locality,  i.  c.,  the  place  of.  Macheu- 
jaiihilusyfngj  shortened  and  softened  into  Machwihilusing,  the 
place  or  residence  of  the  large  old  man — the  home]  of  the 
great  patriarch. 

The  earliest  hint  that  I  can  find  of  WyalusingTin  the 
journals  of  white  travelers  is  that  of  C.  Wisser  on  his  trip  to 
and  from  Onondaga,  in  1737.  April  24 — passed^to-day  Onon- 
to  (Owego)  down  to  Diaogo  (Tioga).  April  25 — Embarked 
early,  got  a  companion,  a  relative  of  Shikellimy,  but  who  was 
of  little  use,  except  to  help  to  eat.  We  passed  tlie  spot  where 
we  first  rested  after  leaving  the  desolate  wilderness,*  the 
mouth  of  Oshcaluif  (Sugar  creek)  and  Dawantaa  (Towanda). 

*I.  e.  ou  the  up  trip,  \\a,  the  Lyc»ming,  theuce  acrosB  Besver  Uaui  iuto  the  To-prauda, 
which  WelBser  says  signifles  "  the  fretful.'' 

■>  Siiniifies  "  the  fi«rce." 


122  GENERAL   HISTORY. 

Shot  several  ducks  and  wild  turkeys.  Passed  several  fine 
bodies  of  land,  partly  level,  partly  timbered.  *  April  26 — 
Reached  Skehandowana  (Wyoming).  Hero  there  is  a  large 
body  of  land,  the  like  of  which  is  not  to  be  found  on  the 
river. 

The  next  reference  is  by  Christian  Frederick  Post,  the 
first  Moravian  at  Papunhank's  town  at  Wyalusing.  He  and 
John  Hays  (a  young  Scotch  Irishman,  from  the  settlement  in 
Allen  township,  Northampton  county,)  were  deputed  by  the 
Government  in  May,  1760,  to  accompany  Teedyuscung,  King 
of  the  Delawares,  to  the  great  Indian  council  to  be  held  by 
the  Western  Indians  over  the  Ohio.  Having  been  denied  a 
passage  through  the  Seneca  country,  they  tur-ned  back  and 
reached  Bethlehem  June  30.  The  following  arc  extracts 
from  his  journal :  § 

Dear  Sir  : — It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  inform  your 
Honor  that  we  arrived  at  Mockocklooking,  an  Indian  town 
newly  laid  out,  where  there  is  a  company  together,  all  of  the 
Minisink  (Monsey)  Indians,  a  sort  of  religious  people.  It  is 
about  eight  years  (1752)  that  they  originated,  and  Papoun- 
hang  is  the  originator  of  the  company  and  th^ir  preacher. 
They  want  to  see  the  Friends  (Quakers)  chiefly.  *  *  As 
this  people  is  a  religious  people,  they  desired  to  me  to  hold 
them  a  meeting.  This  I  did  with  great  blessing,  speaking  on 
the  Announceme7it  of  the  Saviour  s  Birth  hy  the  Angels,  May 
20,  1760.  *  =i=  *  The  Indians  said  to  mc  "  Brother,  I 
am  greatly  pleased  to  bear  of  that  good  peace,  that  it  is  well 
established.  I  heartily  share  in  it,  and  like  to  live  in  peace. 
Hearken,  brother  !  I  pray  you  to  have  pity  on  us,  and  let  us 
have  no  strong  drinks  at  all.     This  we    all  who  live  at  Mach- 


*  Probably  Wy«lti8iiig  flate. 

i  P^nnayiTania  Arrbi«'<'«ii.  ITT..  \>.  n-i. 


(JENERAL    HISTORY.  I'lH 

achlosung  pray  of  you ;  and  if  any  of  our  young  men  should 
come  down,  ask  them  where  they  come  from,  and  if  they  say 
they  come  from  Machachlosung,  I  pray  you  to  give  them  not 
a  drop  of  liquor  at  all." 

Extract  from  John  Hay's  journal. f  May  19,  17G0 — Set 
off  early  though  wet,  and  arrived  at  a  town  called  Quihaloos- 
ing  ;  the  Governor's  name  is  Wampoonham,  (Papunhank)  a 
very  religious  civilized  man  in  his  own  way,  and  showed  us  a 
great  deal  of  kindness.  Held  a  conference  with  him  this 
evening,  and  when  over,  Mr.  Post  gave  them^a  sermon  at 
their  request. 

May  20 — They  called  us  to  council  and  seemed  to  be  very 
friendly.  ♦  *  *  This  town  is  situated  on  the  Susque- 
hanna, east  side,  about  twenty  houses  full  of  people,  very 
good  land,  and  good  Indian  buildings,  all  new.  Had  sermon 
this  evening  again. 

May  21 — Set  off  about  11  o'clock  (i.  e.  north)  and  crossed 
the  Quihaloosing  creek  about  a  mile  above  the  town. 

July  7,  1760 — "  Some  twenty  Indians  from  the  Susque- 
hanna passed  through  Bethlehem,  on  the  way  to  Philadelphia, 
to  a  conference  which  opened  July  11.  Among  these  was 
Papunhank.  Most  of  these  are  known  to  us,  and  some  live 
or  six  years  ago  (1754)  had  heard  us  preach  the  gospel  on 
the  Susquehanna.  We  met  them  in  the  small  chapel.  They 
bought  three  captive  children.  Bethlehem  Diary 

"Gov.  Hamilton  met  twenty -four  Monsey  Indians,  two 
Nantlcokes  and  three  Delawares  from  an  Indian  town  called 
Miehalloosen  or  Wighahoscoyi,  about  fifty  or  sixty  miles 
above  Wiomink  on  the  Susquehanna  in  conference  at  Phila- 
delphia, July  11,  1760.     The  speakers  of   the  Monsey's  were 

■f  I'enuivlvanis  Archive*,  III,  p.  7;}5. 


124  GENERAL   UISTOUY. 

Papunhank  and  Toan-kakanan.  Job  Chilla\Tay,  a  Delaware, 
interpreted  for  Papunhank.  On  this  occasion  Papunhank 
stated  that  at  his  town  white  persons  and  also^horaes  had  been 
collected  during  the  late  war  (1755-1760),  that  he  had  at 
Post's  request,  given  up  the  three  persons  there,  viz  :  two 
girls,  a  boy,  and  all  the  horses  stolen  from  the  frontiers. 

July  18,  1760,  "  Papunhank  and  his  Indians  returned  from 
Philadelphia.  July  21  Bishop  Spangenberg  had  an  interview 
with  Papunhank.  July  23  Papunhank  and  his  followers  left 
for  his  town,  Quichloosinh,  on  the  Susquehanna." 

Bethlehem  Diary. 

From  the  extracts  it  appears  that  Papunhank  was  the 
founder  of  the  town  known  to  the  Moravians,  which  was  a 
sort  of  religious  community ;  that  Post  preached  the  first 
sermon  among  them  and  was  the  means  of  their  becoming 
acquainted  with  the  Brethren — and  that  it  was  predominantly 
a  Monsey  town. 

Also,  from  the  Bethlehem  diary  we  learn  that  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Pontiac  conspiracy,  twenty-one  of  these 
Indians  under  the  lead  of  Papunhank,  determined  to  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  war,  and  availed  themselves  of  the 
shelter  of  government  barracks  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  next 
year  Papunhank,  in  company  with  three  other  christian  Indi- 
ans, came  back  to  Wyalusing  to  select  a  place  for  a  christian 
town,  to  which  the  remnant  left  in  Philadelphia,  came  in 
April,  1765,  after  a  tedious  journey  of  five  weeks  and  one  day. 

June  11,  1766 — Our  Indians  on  the  Susquehanna  have 
changed  the  place  of  their  abode,  removing  a  short  distance 
above  Wihilusing — erected  two  rows  of  dwellings,  in  the 
centre  is  the  meeting  house."  From  Heckewelders  narrative 
we  learn  this  meeting  bouse  was  surmounted  by  a  cupola  and 
bell  (p.  97),  that  the  white   surveyors  were  laying  out  farms 


r.ENERlL    HISTORY.  125 

here  previous  to  the  abandonment  of  the  mission  (p.  107). 
Also  a  Mohichan  Indian  named  Joshua,  with  the  aid  of  the 
brethren,  made  a  spinnet  which  was  used  in  the  worship  of 
the  new  church,  the  first  instrument  of  the  kind  in  the  coun- 
try (p.  413). 

Rev.  (afterward  Bishop)  Christian  Gregor  and  Loretz  were 
commissioned  by  the  General  Synod  of  the  Moravian  church 
to  visit  their  missions  in  America.  He  reached  Friedenshut- 
ten  on  this  tour  of  visitation  early  in  the  summer  of  1771  and 
gave  a  representation  of  his  journey  and  of  the  mission 
in  a  playfull  poem  written  in  German  to  his  daughter, 
and  which  he  intended  should  reach  her  on  her  birthday. 
This  poem  which  has  never  yet  been  published,  is  written  in 
such  peculiar  measure  as  to  make  a  poetical  translation  unus- 
ually difficult.  The  following  prose  rendering  of  some  of  the 
stanzas  may  not  be  uninteresting.  After  mentioning  several 
places  he  says':  "  Besides  these  there  are  other  regions  in 
which  we  have  churches — one  of  these  lies  on  the  Susquehanna 
where  it  bristles  with  mountains,  and  to  reach  which  the 
traveller  must  needs  have  bold  feet.  Here  he  partakes  of 
Indian  manna,*  which  himself  must  stamp  in  a  mortar.  This 
is  Friedenshutten,  situate  in  heathen  lands.  It  was  with  diffi- 
culty that  we  journeyed  thence  on  invitation,  for  the  road  was 
hard  to  travel,  alternately  up  and  down  and  often  dangerous 
on  account  of  the  watercourses.  Despite  this,  Loretz  and 
I  resolved  last  May  to  go  thither.  We  gladly  accepted  of 
Nathaniel  Seidel  and  four  Indians  (who  were  sent  down 
thence)  as  guides.  One  hundred  and  seventy  miles  we  had 
need  to  travel,  and  the  road  led  over  many  a  steep  mountain, 
often  scarce  passable,  rough,  swampy,  narrow,  dark  and 
gloomy  too  through  the  forest.     It  was  a  world  of  mountains, 

*  Mauie. 


120  GENERAL    HISTORY. 

in  ■which  tall  hills  were  but  as  -wapp  beside  taller  ones.  Pri- 
meval wildernesses  and  plains  never  as  yet  dwelt  in  by  man. 
*  *  *  On  reaching  the  Susquehanna  we  embarked  in 
canoes,  and  keeping  to  the  middle  of  the  river,  saw  Frieden- 
hutten  before  us  on  the  fifth  day.  I  shall  never  forget  the 
looks  of  joy — of  festive  joy — depicted  on  the  countenances  of 
those  converted  heathen,  as  they  stood  -an^  ran  up  the  bank 
(young  and  old,  large  and  small)  to  welcome  us  in  sweet 
unison.  All  work  was  laid  aside  to  prolong  this  joyous 
meeting,  and  for  five,  even  six  days  too,  during  our  sojourn. 
Surely  these  once  heathen  are  now  the  subjects  of  divine 
grace.  We  assisted  to  minister  to  them  daily  in  the  services 
of  the  sanctuary.  We  also  celebrated  the  Lord's  supper  with 
them.  I  greeted  them  for  Herrnhut,  for  Bethlehem  and  for 
myself.  They  are  a  dear  people — some  of  them  persons  of 
distinction — ^a  wide  awake  and  sagacious  race  of  brown  men. 
The  Lord  has  set  some  of  them  apart  as  he  did  men  in  the 
Apostolic  times.  Our  hearts  and  our  lips  often  overflowed 
with  gratitude  at  witnessing  such  tokens  of  divine  grace.  On 
Whit-Sunday  there  was  a  baptism  of  five  adults  in  which  we 
took  part.  The  last  day  of  our  sojourn  I  baptised  also  a  little 
child  as  it  lay  in  swadling  clothes,  her  I  named  Johanna  and 
commended  her  to  the  keeping  of  her  crucified  Master. 
Hereupon  we  set  out  on  our  return  to  Bethlehem,  with  hearts 
grateful  for  all  we  have  here  seen  and  experienced." 

Ill  the  narrative  of  Zuriel  Sherwood,  published  in  the 
Wyoming  Democrat,  it  is  stated  that  Messrs.  Morris  and 
Nicholson,  directors  of  the  Asylum  land  company,  cut  through 
a  bridle  path  from  the  Lackawanna  over  the  mountains  to 
Wyalusing.  This  is  probably  the  shorter  road  referred  to 
by  Jonas  Ingham.  In  that  same  paper  is  a  description  of  the 
little  corn  mills  which    were  first   built  through   the  country. 


GENERAL    lIIliTOKY.  '  127 

They  were  located  upon  little  streams  which  for  most  part  of 
the  time  now  are  nearly  dry  ;  had  one  run  of  stone  but  little 
larger  than  a  half  bushel.  These  stones  -vrcre  quarried  from 
the  conglomerate  rock  along  the  Lackawanna.  The  mills 
were  so  arranged  that  when  the  stream  was  low  they  could  be 
turned  by  hand,  and  could  crack  into  samp  and  meal  from 
one  and  a  half  to  three  bushels  of  corn  per  day.  Mr.  Sher- 
wood says  that  in  1789  nearly  all  the  corn  used  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Tunkhannock  was  brought  from  "Wyalusing, 
thus  showing  that  Wyalusing  was  in  a  flourishing  condition 
when  the  settlements  were  made  between  it  and  Wyoming. 


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Stocklon,  Calif. 


